Sunday, July 6, 2025
Science

Memorial at Sørbråten to be completed in 2017

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Norway_1-889x590The Government has decided that the national memorial site to commemorate the victims of the terrorist acts of 22 July 2011 will be completed at Sørbråten in the municipality of Hole in 2017.
“We will never forget the attacks on the government building complex and at Utøya on 22 July 2011. The attacks were a tragedy for everybody who was affected, and touched us as a community and nation. National memorial sites are important places where we as a nation can grieve, mourn those we lost, and unite in support of the values that came under attack and were put to the test on that day,” says Minister of Local Government and Modernisation Jan Tore Sanner.
In June 2012, the Stoltenberg Government decided to create two permanent national memorial sites, one at the government building complex in Oslo and a second in the municipality of Hole. In March 2013, the Stoltenberg Government specified that the national memorial in Hole would be located at Sørbråten.
The Storting approved costs for building a national memorial at Sørbråten in December 2013, and in February 2014 Jonas Dahlberg, from Sweden, won an international competition for the design of the memorial sites. Initially, completion of the Hole memorial was scheduled for 22 July 2015.
In response to the strong and divergent views expressed by those affected by the terrorist acts, the Government decided to delay creation of the memorial site. The National Support Group for Victims of the 22 July Attacks favours construction of the memorial site as planned; the neighbours at Sørbråten, however, do not want the memorial in their local environment.
“The local residents should have been involved more actively from the start. That is why we have met many times with the groups involved, both together and separately, as well as with the municipality of Hole and with individuals. Throughout, our overriding objective has been to find a solution that everybody is willing to support,” Sanner says.
Over the winter a new process was undertaken to try to find a solution agreeable to all parties. Important participants included the National Support Group for Victims of the 22 July Attacks and the local residents’ association Utstranda Velforening. Meetings have been held with the various parties, both separately and together. In addition, alternative locations for the monument have been considered at the request of local residents and their association.
“The uncertainty surrounding the creation of the memorial site is an extra weight for everyone involved. The Government has had a strong desire to arrive at a solution that unites everybody, but has now come to realise that this will be impossible. At the same time, everyone wants a decision to be made now,” Sanner says.
“We will therefore adopt the central governmental zoning plan for the area and plan for an opening of the memorial site in the summer of 2017.”
“We are intent on putting mitigation measures in place to minimise the burden on the local community. For road safety purposes the central government will fund street lighting along the county road that runs past Sørbråten. We will also discuss other road safety measures with the municipality and the county,” Sanner adds.
The Ministry of Culture is in dialogue with the artist to consider minor adjustments in the design of the artwork.
“The artist fully understands that there may be a need to adjust the design of the memorial site, and we are in touch with him via KORO (Public Art Norway). Together with KORO we will also look into the possibility of designing an expression of gratitude and recognition to the local community in connection with the national memorial site,” says Minister of Culture Linda Hofstad Helleland.
A memorial site will also be created at the government building complex in Oslo. The two art projects, in Hole and Oslo, are linked artistically, so that further planning of the Oslo memorial monument will depend on progress and clarifications regarding the memorial site in Hole as well as on the continuing work of planning the new government building complex.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Oil & Gas

A secure source of energy for Europe

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

nyhamna_oedNorwegian gas accounts for about a quarter of the gas consumption in the EU. New projections show that Norway will be able to supply flexible and reliable gas for many decades, gas that offers an opportunity for affordable and efficient emission cuts in Europe. However, clear market signals from the EU are important when future gas export solutions from our High North shall be decided.
Norway has a track record of being a reliable supplier of gas to Europe. Our gas system is robust and efficient. Norwegian gas is timely delivered to the buyers, thereby safeguarding security of supply. In a European security of supply perspective, Norwegian gas is as trustworthy as gas from EU-member states. We have resources to stabilize our export to Europe at a high level in the coming decades.

Today, almost all of the Norwegian gas is exported to the European market. During the past 25 years, Norwegian gas exports have quadrupled. And much more is to come. Our gas exports are expected to stabilise at a high level over the coming decades. After more than 40 years of production, only one-third of our the estimated, recoverable Norwegian gas reserves have been produced and sold. Norway is therefore well-positioned to remain a major exporter of gas well into the future. Our projection shows that another third of our resources, 2 000 billion Sm3 gas, will be produced and sold during the next 20 years.
The remaining third will be available for production after 2035. There could yet be far more – particularly in the north. Future exploration will give us the answer.
A significant part of Norway’s future gas export will be from our High North. This year, our pipeline system to Europe will be extended beyond the Arctic Circle. Further north, the Barents Sea has been explored in a safe and environmentally sound manner for 35 years.
In a few years time, we expect to expand our gas export capacity out of the Barents Sea. Currently, we have our only ongoing LNG-export (Liquefied Natural Gas) from this area. The industry needs clear signals from the European market to choose a pipeline connection to Europe over additional market flexible capacity for LNG, which can be sold on a global market.
In meetings with my European colleagues, I always emphasise that the important role of gas in Europe’s energy supply over the next few decades must be put on the agenda. Without clear signals from buyers, it may become difficult for them to access the gas they want. Security of supply and security of demand are two sides of the same coin. It is my understanding that the role of gas in future European energy mix has gained traction among policy makers. One example is the initiative from the European Commission to present a gas package next spring that comprises security of gas supply and an LNG strategy. This has also been underlined by the UK government recently.
As the UK government also argues, gas can also play an important role in reducing the emission of greenhouse gases. Gas is much cleaner than coal. It is also reliable, flexible and well-suited for use alongside intermittent renewables such as solar and wind. I am convinced that gas is part of the solution in order for Europe to reach its climate goals in an expedient and affordable manner.
Norway has the resources needed to remain a major, reliable and long-term supplier of gas to Europe for many decades to come. For Europe, this will mean yet more decades of reliable gas supplies. However, this requires clear market signals. With the right resources, determination and competence on our side, the groundwork is in place to further develop these activities and for Norwegian gas to be a partner for the future.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Oil & Gas

Norway’s oil history in 5 minutes

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

20091022ekofiskflyfoto16In the late 1950s, very few people believed that the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) might conceal rich oil and gas deposits. However, the discovery of gas at Groningen in the Netherlands in 1959 caused people to revise their thinking on the petroleum potential of the North Sea.
In the late 1950s, very few people believed that the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) might conceal rich oil and gas deposits. However, the discovery of gas at Groningen in the Netherlands in 1959 caused people to revise their thinking on the petroleum potential of the North Sea. This discovery led to enthusiasm in a part of the world where energy consumption to a large extent was based on coal and imported oil. In the eagerness to find more, attention was drawn to the North Sea. Norway’s geological expertise was negative to oil and gas deposits, but this could not stop the enthusiasm after the gas discovery in the Netherlands.

In October 1962, Phillips Petroleum sent an application to the Norwegian authorities, for exploration in the North Sea. The company wanted a licence for the parts of the North Sea that were on Norwegian territory, and that would possibly be included in the Norwegian shelf. The offer was 160,000 dollars per month. The offer was seen as an attempt to get exclusive rights, and for the authorities it was out of the question to hand over the whole shelf to one company. If the areas were to be opened for exploration, more companies had to participate.

In May 1963, Einar Gerhardsen’s government proclaimed sovereignty over the NCS. New regulation determined that the State owns any natural resources on the NCS, and that only the King (government) is authorized to award licences for exploration and production. The same year, companies got the possibility to carry out preparatory exploration. The licenses included rights to perform seismic surveys, but not drilling.

Even though Norway had proclaimed sovereignty of large offshore areas, some important clarifications remained on how to divide the continental shelf, primarily with Denmark and Great Britain. Agreements on dividing the continental shelf in accordance with the median line principle were reached in March 1965. First licensing round was announced on 13 April 1965. 22 production licences for a total of 78 blocks were awarded to oil companies or groups of companies. The production licences gave exclusive rights for exploring, drilling, and production in the licence area. The first well was drilled in the summer of 1966, but it was dry.

With the Ekofisk discovery in 1969, the Norwegian oil adventure really began. Production from the field started on 15 June 1971, and in the following years a number of major discoveries were made. Exploration in the 1970s was confined to the area south of the 62nd parallel. The shelf was gradually opened, and only a restricted number of blocks were awarded in each licensing round. Foreign companies dominated exploration off Norway in the initial phase, and were responsible for developing the country’s first oil and gas fields. Statoil was created in 1972, and the principle of 50 percent state participation in each production licence was established. This rule was later changed so that the Storting (the Norwegian parliament) can evaluate whether the level of state participation should be lower or higher, depending on circumstances.

From 1 January 1985, the State’s participation in petroleum operations was reorganised. The State’s participation was split in two, one linked to the company and the other becoming part of the State’s Direct Financial Interest (SDFI) in petroleum operations. SDFI is an arrangement in which the State owns interests in a number of oil and gas fields, pipelines and onshore facilities. Each government take is decided when production licences are awarded and the size varies from field to field. As one of several owners, the State pays its share of investments and costs, and receives a corresponding share of the income from the production licence. The Storting resolved in the spring of 2001 that 21.5 percent of the SDFI’s assets could be sold. 15 percent was sold to Statoil and 6.5 percent was sold to other licensees. The sale of SDFI shares to Statoil was seen as an important element on the way to a successful listing and privatisation of Statoil. Statoil was listed in June the same year, and now operates on the same terms as every other player on the NCS. Petoro was established in May 2001 as a state-owned limited company to manage the SDFI on behalf of the State.
Petroleum activities have contributed significantly to economic growth in Norway, and to the financing of the Norwegian welfare state. Through over 40 years of operations, the industry has created values in excess of NOK 12 000 billion in current terms. In 2012, the petroleum sector accounted for 23 percent of value creation in the country. This is more than twice the value creation of the manufacturing industry and around 15 times the total value creation of the primary industries.
The kristin oil platform
Since the petroleum industry started its activities on the NCS, enormous sums have been invested in exploration, field development, transport infrastructure and land facilities. At the end of 2012, this amounted to some NOK 3000 billion in current terms. Investments in 2012 amounted to over NOK 175 billion, or 29 percent of the country’s total real investments.

In spite of more than 40 years of production, only around 42 percent of the total expected resources on the NCS have been produced. Production (including NGL) reached a peak in 2001 of 3.4 million barrels per day. In 2012, the liquids production was 1,8 million barrels per day. Gas sales the same year was 114,8 billion cubic metres. There are 8000 km of offshore gas pipelines with landing points in four countries in Europe. 53 companies are currently licensees on the Norwegian continental shelf and 42 exploration wells were drilled in 2012.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Economics

Adjustments in order to increase distribution of power and private ownership

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

eierskapsmld2In the new white paper on direct ownership in state-owned enterprises the Government asks for consent to reduce state ownership in several companies.
In the new white paper on direct ownership in state-owned enterprises the Government asks for consent to reduce state ownership in several companies.
– The Government intends to make adjustments in order to increase diversification of power and private ownership. Private ownership should be the principle and state ownership must be justified specifically, says Ms. Monica Mæland, the Minister of Trade and Industry.
Today the Government presented the new white paper on direct ownership in state-owned enterprises to the Storting (the Norwegian Parliament).
The state has a comprehensive ownership comprising amongst other of one third of the values listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange. On top of this the state owns a number of non-listed enterprises, in part or as a whole. In the white paper the Government asks for authorization from the parliament to reduce state ownership in several state-owned enterprises.
– This will increase the state’s flexibility to reduce the state ownership and its ability to support mergers or acquisitions or other strategic changes which will have a positive effect on the companies’ development, says Ms. Mæland.
The Government will in its proposition for the fiscal budget for 2015 ask for consent from the Storting to sell the state’s shares in companies where there is no specific justification for state ownership. Cermaq and Flytoget are amongst these companies (please see below for a complete list). Further, the Government will ask for consent to potentially reduce the state’s ownership of Kongsberg Gruppen ASA and Telenor ASA down to 34 percent.
– The state inhabits many roles and represents a great deal of power. Over time we intend to reduce the state’s direct ownership. I want, however, to emphasise that that we are in no rush to make these changes, and the flexibility we ask for represents no obligation to sell. In some companies state ownership is well justified. This could be to maintain main headquarter functions in Norway, the management of common natural resources, or in consideration of sectoral policy objectives. For the foreseeable future Norway will have considerable state ownership, says the Minister.
The white paper deals with the Government’s ownership policies and how the state ownership is to be conducted. State ownership shall be conducted in a professional and responsible manner. The main concern for the companies run on commercial basis is return on invested capital. There are various factors which contribute to this objective, among others well functioning, competent boards, clear expectations with regards to return on equity, dividends and corporate social responsibility. The white paper concerns the direct state ownership managed by the Ministries and comprises 55 companies where the state holds shares.
Another topic in the white paper is the remuneration of company executives. The Government announces that it will propose revised guidelines for executive remuneration this fall.
– Remuneration of company executives is a complicated topic and we need time to consider. We will have to do some additional work here, says Ms. Mæland.
The Government will in its proposition for the fiscal budget for 2015 ask the Storting for consent to possibly sell the states shares in part or in full for the following companies:
Ambita AS (formerly Norsk Eiendomsinformasjon AS)
Baneservice AS
Cermaq ASA
Entra Holding AS
Flytoget AS
Mesta AS
SAS AB
Veterinærmedisinsk Oppdragssenter AS
The Government will in its proposition for the fiscal budget for 2015 ask the Storting for consent to possibly reduce state ownership down to 34 percent in the following companies:
Kongsberg Gruppen ASA
Telenor ASA

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Environment

The government’s railway reform: A better transport future for rail commuters and goods transporters

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

togperrong“The role of the railways in the transport system is to be strengthened. An increase in grants and improvements in organisation will transform the railways into a key transport sector in the future. The railway reform will better distribute the various fields of responsibility and thus ensure a more professionally organised system. I am satisfied with the substantial and positive engagement shown by the participants in the railway sector in connection with the work on the reform”.

These were the words of Minister of Transport and Communications Ketil Solvik-Olsen when he, together with representatives from the co-operating partners Høyre, Fremskrittspartiet, Venstre and Kristelig Folkeparti, presented the main elements of the plans for a reform of the railway sector.

“The current parliamentary majority has demonstrated the will and intention to invest in the railways. After the change of government in 2013 grants in the railways have increased by about 50 percent, and maintenance in particular has benefited from this. The backlog in maintenance will be reduced in 2015 after many years of neglect. This is already laying the foundations for a more robust infrastructure. At the same time we need to make changes in the way the railways are organised in order to clarify responsibility for tasks and thus ensure improved exploitation of all resources. The current organization is not fully suited to purpose, and the major participants in the railway sector have been asking for a reform, a fact that serves to emphasize the need for systemic change”, says Solvik-Olsen.

The necessity of a railway reform
“Many of the participants in the railway sector have pointed to a number of challenges in the railway sector, amongst these the division of responsibilities in a number of areas. One example of this is that responsibility for railway property is shared between Jernbaneverket and NSBs Rom Eiendom. This creates unclear areas of responsibility in connection with the development of the rail hubs. The reform will provide a better solution for this”, says the Minister
“Many have also pointed to the weak economic incentives in the sector. The current form of organisation does not produce enough customer focus. The railway sector fails to fully exploit the benefits inherent in the competitive factor. Competition contributes to increased efficiency and innovation. There is also potential to improve co-ordination between the railways and other forms of public transport.

Measures for a better railway
The government bases the reform on state ownership of the railway infrastructure, and that the railway sector will be a target for investment and improvement. The necessary resources must be allocated and reorganisation accomplished in order to achieve this goal.

One of the proposed changes to ensure that the railway sector is better equipped to meet the future is to gather more governmental responsibilities in the sector into one state controlled and strong governmental body. The unit will amongst other tasks deal with long-term planning and have the role of co-ordinator in relation to the sector’s participants and other forms of public transport.

The plan is to set up a state controlled unit with the main task of operating, maintaining and building railway infrastructure. In order to ensure predictability for the unit, the unit will enter into long-term licensing agreements with the state. The unit will also be responsible for the management of all railway property in Norway. This will contribute to an improved, more efficient and more effective development of stations and transportation hubs.
Some railway operational and maintenance work is already open to competition, and the experience gleaned from this is positive. The government envisages that more operational and maintenance tasks will be opened for competition over time, and with longer-term agreements in place for the parties. This notwithstanding, a state-owned participant will have overall responsibility safety and for the quality of all maintenance work carried out.

Competition for improved rail services
The driving force behind the reform is the strong political aim to give the railway’s customers with better, improved rail services. Norway already has experience with competition in the public transport sector. The competition to operate Gjøvikbanen has resulted in a satisfying increase in the number of passengers carried, and the customer satisfaction is very high. There is also full competition in goods transport by rail. The government will bring the positive elements of competition into the railway sector to a higher degree with the aim of improving vitality, efficiency and innovation.

Competition in the railway sector will be regulated through licenses, where the state ensures attractive rail travel service on stretches that are not necessarily economically viable. The plan is therefore to permit train companies to compete for traffic on the various stretches by agreement with the government.

Regard for railway sector employees
The current employees in the sector are the single most important resource in ensuring a successful transition in the railway sector. The government will place emphasis on an including and predictable process for the employees. The employees’ organisations have been informed of the main features of the planned changes. Employees’ organisations will be heard when measures are to be given concrete content.

The reform contains no plans to introduce alterations to pension schemes that are established in existing state-owned companies.

The Railways Act includes provisions that make certain provisions regarding transfer of ownership of undertakings of the Working Environment Act apply to competitions for agreements on passenger transport by rail, if after the competition the activity is operated with the same type of transport vehicle as was previously the case.
A White Paper on the reform will be presented to Stortinget in the near future.

For more information please contact Political Advisor Reynir Johannesson (Frp): 465 48 595

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Science

Danish-Norwegian aviation company Air Service

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

08_76Danish-Norwegian aviation company Air Service Vamdrup with workshop facilities in Vamdrup, Denmark, and at Eggemoen, Norway, has been appointed as an Authorized Piper Service Center in Norway. The appointment means better service to Northern European and especially Norwegian Piper aircraft owners.

Air Service Vamdrup ApS, headquartered in Vamdrup, Denmark, and since May 2014 with a Norwegian ‘branch’ of the company at Eggemoen, aka ‘Air Service Eggemoen’, has just been appointed as an authorized Piper Service Center in Norway. The appointment means that the company is now closer to the US aircraft manufacturer Piper – and may now perform warranty work on Piper aircraft, has a hotline directly to Piper if help is needed, for e.g. troubleshooting, and that spare parts can be purchased directly from Piper etc.

– Basically, our new status as an authorized service center means that Piper owners can expect an even better service, Torben Biehl Jensen, Business Development Director of Air Service Vamdrup, explains. – There are many Piper aircraft in Norway, old as well as new, so we are pleased to be able to offer owners of these aircraft an additional service. Also, Piper is of course a good, solid product, one of the large, well-established manufacturers that have been active in the GA-market since people began building airplanes – so it’s nice to get even closer to them, Torben Biehl Jensen says.

Air Service Vamdrup and Eggemoen work closely with the Danish aircraft sales company European Aircraft Sales, the official Piper dealer throughout Scandinavia, owned and operated by Katja Nielsen and Bjarne Jorsal. – European Aircraft Sales has identified us as the preferred workshop in Norway, and this in combination with our expertise and experience has made it clear for Piper to appoint us, Torben Biehl Jensen explains.

Piper aircraft, however, are by no means new in an Air Service Vamdrup context. – We have performed maintenance on Piper aircraft since our company was established in 1988 – for roughly 30 years, so we know these planes in and out and always follow up on the newest developments. The fact that warranty work and even better access to and closer co-operation with Piper is added to our services only strengthen our skills and dedication, he concludes.

Piper’s small Archer DX diesel version, launched in 2014 and equipped with a Continental 2.0 S engine, is also one of Air Service Vamdrup’s specific areas of competence. The company is in fact – in addition to now being an authorized Piper Service Center – also an authorized Continental Diesel Engine Distributor & Installation Center in Scandinavia.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Peace Talks

Honouring the Kavli Prizes winners

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

ohqpwcbd0bkwccxtrsz4Nine pioneer­ing scientists from Germany, Switzerland, United Kingdom and USA have been named this year’s recipients of the Kavli Prizes – prizes that recognize scientists for their seminal advances in astro­physics, nanoscience and neuroscience.

This year’s laureates were selected for the direct detection of gravita­tional waves, the invention and realization of atomic force micros­copy, and for the discovery of mechanisms that allow experience and neural activity to remodel brain function.

– I want to congratulate the winners with well-deserved prizes. The society can thank pioneering scientist for knowledge and contributions that we later take for granted. The Kavli prizes recognizes the pioneering work done by these excellent scientist, says Torbjørn Røe Isaksen, minister of Education and Research.

The Kavli Prize in Astrophysics goes to Ronald W.P. Drever, Kip S. Thorne and Rainer Weiss. Gerd Binnig, Christoph Gerber and Calvin Quate share the Kavli Prize in Nanoscience. The Kavli Prize in Neuroscience goes to Eve Marder, Michael Merzenich and Carla Shatz.

The Kavli Prize is awarded by The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters and consists of a cash award of 1 million US dollars in each field. The laureates receive in addition a gold medal and a scroll.

The Kavli Prize in Astrophysics
The prize is shared between Ronald W.P. Drever and Kip S. Thorne, both from California Institute of Technology, USA, and Rainer Weiss, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA. They receive the prize “for the direct detection of gravitational waves”.

The signal picked up by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) in the US on September 14, 2015, lasted just a fifth of a second but brought to an end a decades-long hunt to directly detect the ripples in space-time known as gravitational waves. It also opened up a completely new way of doing astronomy, which uses gravitational rather than elec­tromagnetic radiation to study some of the most extreme and vio­lent phenomena in the universe.

This detection has, in a single stroke and for the first time, vali­dated Einstein’s theory of general relativity for very strong fields, established the nature of gravita­tional waves, demonstrated the existence of black holes with masses 30 times that of our sun, and opened a new window on the universe. The detection of gravitational waves is an achievement for which hundreds of scientists, engineers and technicians around the world share credit. Drever, Thorne and Weiss stand out: their ingenuity, inspiration, intellectual leadership and tenacity were the driving force behind this epic discovery.

The Kavli Prize in Nanoscience
The prize is shared between Gerd Binnig, Former Member of IBM Zurich Research Laboratory, Switzerland, Christoph Gerber, University of Basel, Switzerland, and Calvin Quate, Stanford University, USA. They receive the prize “for the invention and realization of atomic force microscopy, a breakthrough in measurement technology and nanosculpting that continues to have a transformative impact on nanoscience and technology”.

The realization of the atomic force microscope was reported by Binnig, Gerber and Quate in 1986, with a demonstration that the instrument could be used to obtain profiles of a solid-state surface with close to atomic resolution.

In the last 30 years the instrument has evolved dramatically and has provided fundamental insight into the chemistry and physics of a large variety of surfaces. It is still widely used today as a versatile tool for imaging and manipulation in a broad range of scientific disciplines.

The Kavli Prize in Neuroscience
The prize is shared between Eve Marder, Brandeis University, USA, Michael Merzenich, University of California San Francisco, USA, and Carla Shatz, Stanford University, USA. They receive the prize “for the dis­covery of mechanisms that allow experience and neural activity to remodel brain function”.

Until the 1970s, neuroscientists largely believed that by the time we reach adulthood the architecture of the brain is hard-wired and rela­tively inflexible. The ability of nerves to grow and form abundant new connections was thought mainly to occur during infancy and childhood. This view supported the notion that it is easier for children to learn new skills such as a lan­guage or musical instrument than it is for adults.

Over the past 40 years, however, the three Kavli neuroscience prize-winners have challenged these assumptions and provided a con­vincing view of a far more flexible adult brain than previously thought possible – one that is ‘plastic’, or capable of remodelling. Working in different model systems, each researcher has focused on how experience can alter both the archi­tecture and functioning of nerve circuits throughout life, given the right stimulus and context. They have provided a physical and bio­chemical understanding of the idea of ‘use it, or lose it’.

This new picture of a more adapt­able brain offers hope for develop­ing new ways to treat neurological conditions that were once consid­ered untreatable.

About the Kavli Prizes
The Kavli Prize is a partnership between The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, The Kavli Foundation (USA) and The Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research. The Kavli Prizes were initiated by and named after Fred Kavli (1927 – 2013), founder of The Kavli Foundation which is dedicated to advancing science for the benefit of humanity, promoting public understanding of scientific research, and supporting scientists and their work.
Kavli Prize recipients are chosen biennially by three prize commit­tees comprised of distinguished international scientists recom­mended by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the French Academy of Sciences, the Max Planck Society, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and The Royal Society.

After making their selection for award recipients, the recommenda­tions of these prize committees are confirmed by The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters.

The 2016 Kavli Prizes will be awarded in Oslo, Norway, on the 6th of September. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon will present the prizes to the laure­ates. This year’s ceremony will be hosted by Alan Alda and Lena Kristin Ellingsen. Torbjørn Røe Isaksen, Minister of Education and Research, will host a banquet at Oslo City Hall in honour of the laureates.

The ceremony is part of Kavli Prize Week – a week of special programs that celebrate extraordinary achievements in science.

For more detailed information on each of the prizes, the 2016 laure­ates and their work, the Kavli Prize and all the events see www.kavliprize.org.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Politics

44 hospitalized after package with powder opened at Norwegian post office

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

575102b6c361886c228b457fA postal sorting office in southern Norway was evacuated after dozens felt sick after a suspicious package containing “powder” was opened. More than 40 people sought medical aid as a bomb squad investigated the site in protective hazmat suits.

Norwegian police, two fire trucks, and a bomb and chemical squad were dispatched Thursday to the municipality of Stokke in southern Norway alerted by the local postal service workers. Four of the workers initially reported eye pain after opening a package with unidentified powder, Tønsbergs Blad reported.

Those who were in a direct contact with the substance, along with 10 people present in the room at the time of the package being opened and a further 28 people in other units of the building, were sent for treatment and check-ups at the Vestfold Hospital, VG newspaper said.

The building was cordoned off by police and chemical experts wearing protecting suits and gas masks. No one was allowed to approach the area within 100 meters.

The affected workers and those who might have been exposed to the supposed chemical were kept in isolation at the hospital after being hosed down in the hospital’s garage. Some of the patients had difficulty breathing, but the symptoms were not severe, Afternposten newspaper reported, citing Merete Lindahl, the hospital`s spokeswomen.

The origin of the package, the substance it contains, and how it was delivered to the postal sorting office are still not known.

“We have cordoned off an area around the mail terminal, and are currently making the investigative steps that we believe are necessary in relation to mail delivery – where it came from, where it was going and what it contained,” police spokeswoman Katrine Christensen Brygard said, VG reported.

The postal service staff reportedly wrapped the package in plastic immediately upon feeling symptoms and locked it up in a safe.

As there is no information as to the nature of the substance, its effect and how quickly it may spread, there is a possibility that some mail already dispatched from the terminal could have been infected.

Asked by Tønsbergs Blad if all this mail may be intercepted until it is headed further, the terminal`s spokesman, John Eckhoff, said that he was “not familiar with” the situation.

“This is a police matter and they take care of the matter. Terminal Stokke is not the largest terminal we have, so it will not bring major national implications for mail delivery,” he told to NRK.

Per Andreassen, a police official at the site, told the outlet the police would not rush to examine the substance on site as it “must take precautions in terms of what it can be, and handle the package accordingly.”

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Environment

Norway becomes the first country in world to commit to a zero deforestation supply chain

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Norway_1-889x590Norway has become the first country in the world to commit to zero deforestation. The Norwegian parliament’s Standing Committee on Energy and the Environment made the pledge in a recommendation on the government’s Action Plan on Nature Diversity. The committee requested that the government “impose requirements to ensure that public procurements do not contribute to deforestation of the rainforest.”

The committee also requested that the government protect biodiversity through a new policy and the investments made by the Norges Bank Investment Management, which manages Norway’s Government Pension Fund Global.

“This is an important victory in the fight to protect the rainforest. Over the last few years, a number of companies have committed to cease the procurement of goods that can be linked to destruction of the rainforest”, said Nils Hermann Ranum of Rainforest Foundation Norway. “Until now, this has not been matched by similar commitments from governments. Thus, it is highly positive that the Norwegian state is now following suit and making the same demands when it comes to public procurements.”

The Rainforest Foundation of Norway called on other countries follow Norway’s lead and commit to zero deforestation, particularly Germany and the UK, the two nations that in 2014 at the UN Climate Summit in New York made a joint declaration along with Norway stating their intention to “promote national commitments that encourage deforestation-free supply chains, including through public procurement policies to sustainably source commodities such as palm oil, soy, beef and timber.”

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Srilanka and Norway

Norway Business Association of Sri Lanka launched in Colombo

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

DSC_3700The launch of the Norway Business Association of Sri Lanka took place last evening (June 1st).

A memorandum of Understanding was also signed prior to the launch by Visiting State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway Mr. Tore Hattrem and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Harsha De Silva.

Speaking at the launch Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Harsha de Silva noted that there is immense potential for the business communities of both countries to leverage on and discussions are underway at Government level on the regulatory aspects of the Oil and Gas Industry.

DSC_3711The Minister also said that they are looking at the possibility of cooperation in the fields of aquaculture and offshore fish farming .

Meanwhile the visiting the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway Mr. Tore Hattrem said that his government is convinced that enhanced commercial cooperation between the two countries is in mutual interest of both nations.

”The future for your country as I see it lies in the modernization of the economic sector and opening up for foreign investments,it is my conviction that Sri Lanka can and will play an important role in the global value chain. A nation could hardly be placed more strategically placed geographically than you are.” stressed Tore Hattrem.

(N.Sethu)

tore-mangala-020616-seithy

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Sports

Norway beats Euro 2016-bound Iceland 3-2

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

7cfc04aebfbb4fbe9029500321195162Iceland slumped to a 3-2 defeat against Norway in a friendly on Wednesday as the islanders prepared for their first major tournament at the European Championship.

Stefan Johansen scored with a first-minute volley as Norway, which didn’t qualify for Euro 2016, dominated its opponent.

Sverrir Ingi Ingason leveled for Iceland in the 36th minute, before Pal Andre Helland scored Norway’s second with a free kick in the 41st.

Alexander Sorloth made it 3-1 in the 67th and Gylfi Sigurdsson converted a penalty for Iceland in the 81st minute.

Iceland opens its campaign against Portugal on June 14, and also faces Austria and Hungary in Group F.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Sports

Bilic’s Man-Management Coming Under Scrutiny

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Samuelsen guitarThe rise and rise of Hammers 19 year old Norwegian sensation Martin Samuelsen continued this week with his debut appearance for the full Norwegian side. Samuelsen came on as a second half substitute provoking the free kick that resulted in a winning goal for Norway as the game ended 3-2. Although Norway wont be competing at the Euros, they have a series of friendlies this Summer that can provide further opportunities for Samuelsen to shine.

Samuelsen has enjoyed an impressive first season at West Ham. After the action of the Europa League, he spent most of the season at Peterborough where he notched 20 appearances scoring two goals in the process. One of these came against our old mates at Sheffield United and understandably drew comparisons with a certain Mr Lionel Messi…take a look below!

Samuelsen also got to notch a trophy as he returned from the Posh to appear for the Hammers U21 side as they seized the Premiership title last month. Right now things look mighty positive but how will he fit into manager Slaven Bilic’s plans next season and how will West Ham accommodate the growing needs of their other rising stars such as Reece Oxford, Reece Burke and Josh Cullen?

With a talented squad already at his disposal and instructions to bring in some players who can immediately slot into our first team, Bilic has an embarrassment of riches. Oxford managed 12 appearances last term, but if the rumour mill is anything to go by, may be tempted elsewhere in search of more first team action. Burke and Cullen enjoyed successful loan spells at Bradford City.

All of which points towards the merits of taking the Europa League more seriously this year. These starlets need more experience while a glance around the rest of the team also raises cries for more first team action – Darren Randolph can only be kept on the sidelines for so long, the fact that James Tomkins couldn’t get a CB berth highlights the quality in defence.

In midfield, where Cullen and Samuelsen will be hoping to contribute, there is already has a host of top performers both creatively (Payet, Lanzini, Antonio) as well as in the engine room (Noble, Kouyate and Obiang).

Samuelsen is tall (almost 6’3″) pacey and has quick feet. He can play either centrally or out wide. This versatility will undoubtedly be an important asset as he tries to force his way into the first team.

He can also play a bit of guitar…maybe that will further endear him to our rock star manager!

Exciting times ahead. Let’s hope we can keep all these talented players on board and happy!

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Srilanka and Norway

Norwegian delegation meets Jaffna Commander

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Norwegian_delegation_meets_Jaffna_Commander_20160602_02p1A Norwegian delegation during its visit to the Jaffna Peninsula met the Security Forces Commander – Jaffna in northen Sri Lanka recently.

The delegation including the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway Mr. Tore Hattrem, and Ambassador of Norway in Sri Lanka Mr. Thorbjorn Gaustadsaether met Commander SF- J Major General Mahesh Senanayake at his office in Palay Jaffna in northen Sri Lanka on Wednesday (01st June 2016).

According to Army media sources during the cordial meeting Commander SF-J presented a brief account on the present security status, civil administration system and military role in the reconciliation process in the peninsula to the visiting delegates.

Mementoes were also exchanged during the occasion.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Environment

Norway identifies chemicals of concern for national ‘priority list’

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Isbjørn Morten Ekker IMG_5750 RIIThe Norwegian Environment Agency has identified new chemicals of concern that it wants to see added to the country’s list of priority substances.

In a letter to the Ministry of Climate and Environment, the agency has proposed the following substances for inclusion:

four benzotriazoles: UV-320, UV-327, UV-328 and UV-350;

dibutyltin (DBT) and dioctyltin (DOT); and

perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) and its related substances.

The list, which contains over 30 chemicals and groups of chemicals, is part of the Norwegian government’s target to eliminate or substantially reduce releases of priority substances.

These can include those with persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) or very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB) and endocrine disrupting properties.

The agency says benzotriazole, which can be used to protect materials from solar UV rays, is a substance of concern as it is PBT/vPvB.

According to the agency, it can be toxic and has been found in the milk of mammals and in cod and shrimp in the Oslo fjord and at the bottom of lakes in Norway.

The four benzotriazoles substances are named on the REACH Candidate List as SVHCs.

Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) and perfluorohexanesulfonic acid-related substances are vPvB, the agency said. They are also suspected of being endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and have been found in polar cod, gulls and bears, and ringed seals.

PFHxS substances are used broadly in firefighting foam, carpets and textiles, electronics and non-stick cookware.
They share similar properties to another perfluorinated substance on the priority list: perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), which the agency said has been found in breast milk and may be transmitted to the foetus in pregnant women.

Possible EDCs
DBT and DOT are used in certain adhesives and plastic products and have similar “harmful effects” like their “sister” substance group TBT, which is already on the priority list.

They have PBT properties, the agency said, and are potential EDCs and can affect reproduction. They do not decompose easily and have been found in small living organisms such as mussels.

“If the proposal to add these substances is supported, the decision to update the list of priority substances will be made by the government,” Heidi Morka, head of chemicals at the Norwegian Environment Agency, told Chemical Watch.

“This is published in the national budget for 2017, after being presented to the Storting (Parliament) in October 2016.” The national budget presents the government’s programme for the implementation of economic policy and the government’s priorities.

A list for learning, not legislation
Those on the list are not regulated, but it serves as a basis for eliminating their release by 2020.
“If Norway considers that further action is necessary, after the listing of substances, measures such as amendments in regulations (restrictions) will be considered,” Ms Morka said.

The list is an “important base” that helps the agency prioritise regulatory proposals under the EU chemicals regulations REACH and CLP, and also for its work under the UN Stockholm Convention, Ms Morka said.

In addition, a requirement to substitute substances that cause damage to health or the environment is laid down in the Norwegian Product Control Act, Ms Morka said, which ensures a shift to possible lower-risk alternatives.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Corruption in Norway

ACI calls Norway’s air tax “ill-advised, damaging and counterproductive”

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

airports-council-international-europeAirports Council International Europe (ACI) has criticised the introduction of Norway’s new aviation tax, calling it “short-sighted”, and warning that it “ignores the economic and wider strategic benefits of air transport”.

The tax – which comes into effect this week – sees a NOK80 (€8.59) charge made to passengers departing on domestic and international flights from Norway.

In a statement ACI said:

“ACI Europe views the introduction of this new tax as a worrying development. It is short-sighted, as it ignores the economic and wider strategic benefits of air transport – the loss of which will significantly outweigh any short–term gains for the Treasury.”

The statement also said that “A recent study found that Norwegian airports and associated aviation activity had a wider stimulating effect on the Norwegian economy, equivalent to over €8.3 billion of GDP each year, supporting 60,000 jobs”.

ACI added when “direct, indirect and induced economic impact which this aviation activity also supports” were also taken into account, the aviation industry “supports 4 per cent of Norway’s economy”.

The airports council also warned that “Other countries such as Ireland, Belgium and the Netherlands have all toyed with this kind of tax before and eventually repealed it”.

“They did so acknowledging that taxing air transport directly hurts economic performance, and ultimately the State’s ability to collect wider tax revenues.”

Low-cost carrier has already said it plans to close its Oslo Rygge base, with a loss of 16 routes, and to reduce its Norwegian traffic by 50 per cent as a result of the “environmentally unfriendly” new tax.

The airline will also switch its Stansted-Oslo Rygge route (and daily flights from Vilnius to Oslo Rygge) to Oslo Gardermoen, where it says it can avail of a low-cost airport agreement.

Eight remaining Norway routes will be switched to Oslo Torp, as “Oslo Rygge has confirmed it will be unable to sustain reduced non-based services offered by Ryanair”.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Economics

Websites to help plan a vacation to Norway

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

1c9ccbea411cf02a8d8ac7a40534afbdYou have finally done it, decided to visit Norway. Now the fun of planning for your trip begins. Today’s traveler has access to a wide array of websites to help with that planning. No matter what you are looking for you are sure to find it on one of these sites.

Visit Norway is the official travel website of Norway. It is a very straightforward site that has a lot of good information in a user friendly format. The home page has current news about things that are going on in Norway right now, like in late winter the Northern Lights. It has an interactive map that will take you to a wide variety of popular tourist destinations. Clicking on any of these dots will take you to a new page and lots of additional information about that particular location. It also has stunning photos that will confirm in your mind that you have made a very good decision by deciding to visit Norway.

You can find out more information about things to do, where to stay, culture and travel to and in that city. You may also find a link to a website for that particular city. If you plan to visit cities, this is a very valuable site and can help you plan just about every aspect of your visit.
On the home page there is a section called shortcuts where you can go directly to the pages to find out how to get to Norway and how to travel around the country. You can find out the latest news and weather and a lot of other practical information.

This website is very comprehensive and it covers just about anything that you might want to know about travel to Norway. You could plan your entire trip from this one website but why would you want to? Just for the fun of it, visit some of these other websites as well, you never know what great ideas you will find.

Planetware is a site that is much more in depth about the smaller more remote locations. It isn’t comprehensive and only has a small overview of many of the smaller cities but it is easy to use and the information is valuable. If you are planning a driving or walking tour of Norway, they offer a wide variety of options. They tell you where to start and end and sites worth a visit along the way. The website also has some maps that you can download to familiarize yourself with Norway.

Nation Tourist Routes in Norway is a wonderful website for planning a trip. If offers 18 tourist routes that are designed to allow tourists to see some of Norway’s remote and fascinating landscape. Clicking on 18 Tourists Routes brings up a map with points marked on it. Picking one of the marked spots, Andoya, it brings up a small write up, click a second time and you get a new page with History, Experiences and Attractions. You can then add it to your personal trip planner.

Norwegian American is a different type of website, it is the only Norwegian American Magazine available and can be a valuable resource when you what to actually know what is going on. Read about Norwegian Heritage, A Taste of Norway and Travel among many other pages. This is a fun website but it is also filled with very good information. It is the perfect place to get into the spirit of Norway before you actually take your trip

Go Scandinavia is the official site of the Scandinavia tourist boards in the US and it is a good website to bookmark especially if you plan to visit more than one country in Scandinavia. On the home page you can choose your country and of course Norway is one of them. If you click the link it will take you to visitnorway.com so don’t click it. You can use the homepage to find tour operators who specialize in Scandinavia and to easily download or order brochures.

If you are a fan of bed and breakfast, B&B Norway specializes in Bed and Breakfasts in Norway. You will be able to find a B&B in almost any section of the country you are interested in. B&B allows you to get a closer feel for the country and her very friendly people. By clicking on the B&B Catalogue link you will find a map of the country divided into districts and you can choose the one or ones that fit your itinerary.

Fjord Norway is the perfect site to plan your vacation home rental in Norway. You simply put in your dates, the number of people in your party, the type of accommodation you are looking for and then the region. The available choices with their prices will pop up for you to peruse and you then you can add it to “My Planner”.

The Internet has changed the way that vacations are planned. We can now do the research ourselves and even personally arrange the bookings. Using the best websites of Norway travel will make that planning easy and informed. What are you waiting for? The fjords are calling

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Science

Nanoscientists from Switzerland win top honour

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan
An employee of IBM's research laboratory in Rueschlikon in the canton of Zurich, Switzerland, works on a scanning tunneling microscope, pictured on July 31, 2008. Since 1962 IBM conducts research in Rueschlikon, where today it employs around 300 collaborators. (KEYSTONE/Alessandro Della Bella) Eine Mitarbeiterin des IBM-Forschungslabors in Rueschlikon im Kanton Zuerich arbeitet am 31. Juli 2008 an einem Rastertunnelmikroskop. Seit 1962 forscht IBM in Rueschlikon, wo heute ungefaehr 300 Mitarbeiter fuer das Unternehmen taetig sind. (KEYSTONE/Alessandro Della Bella)

An employee of IBM’s research laboratory in Rueschlikon in the canton of Zurich, Switzerland, works on a scanning tunneling microscope, pictured on July 31, 2008. Since 1962 IBM conducts research in Rueschlikon, where today it employs around 300 collaborators. (KEYSTONE/Alessandro Della Bella)
Eine Mitarbeiterin des IBM-Forschungslabors in Rueschlikon im Kanton Zuerich arbeitet am 31. Juli 2008 an einem Rastertunnelmikroskop. Seit 1962 forscht IBM in Rueschlikon, wo heute ungefaehr 300 Mitarbeiter fuer das Unternehmen taetig sind. (KEYSTONE/Alessandro Della Bella)

Two scientists working in Switzerland have won the prestigious Kavli prize for nanoscience, bestowed every two years by Norwegian and American institutions.

Gerd Binnig of the IBM Zurich Research Laboratory and the University of Basel’s Christoph Gerber, as well as their colleague Calvin Quate of Stanford University, were awarded $1 million (CHF990,000) in total for their work on atomic force microscopy. That technology allows scientists to observe how individual atoms are arranged on a surface and manipulate them.

It is the first time Swiss scientists have been honoured with the Kavli prize, which has been given every two years since 2008 by the The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, The Kavli Foundation and The Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research. In addition to nanoscience, Kavli prizes are also given for astrophysics and neuroscience.

This year, the astrophysics prize went to scientists from the California and Massachusetts Institutes of Technology for the direct detection of gravitational waves. The neuroscience award was given to researchers from Brandeis University, the Univresity of California at San Francisco and Stanford University “for the discovery of mechanisms that allow experience and neural activity to remodel brain function,” according to the prize committee.
Prize winners will be honoured at a ceremony in Oslo at the same venue that hosts the Nobel prizes.

(swissinfo)

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Diplomatic relations

Norway jets to Iceland under NATO mission

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

635845998643437810-NSM-140923-N-MB306-007Norway started a four-week deployment in support of NATO’s mission of air surveillance and interception capabilities in Iceland, NATO’s Allied Command Operation said Thursday.

The Royal Norwegian Air Force prepared the bulk of the material required for the deployment and airlifted it to Iceland in May.

On May 30, the main detachment comprised of four F-16 fighter jets and approximately 80 personnel was deployed, the security organization said.

On a rotational basis, NATO nations provide air surveillance and interception capabilities by typically deploying fighter aircraft to Keflavik airbase outside the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik.

This is the fourth time Norwegian fighter jets have executed the NATO mission in Iceland.

 

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Srilanka and Norway

Tore improve bilateral trade

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

image_1464787695-8745a8a7b0Norwegian Foreign Affairs Ministry State Secretary Tore Hattrem during his visit to Sri Lanka met Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrama at his ministry with the Norwegian delegation.

They discussed various aspects of bilateral relations between the two countries.

Particularly areas such as fisheries, maritime services, renewable energy and digitalization were discussed.

Norwegian Ambassador Thobjorn Gaustadsaether was also present at the discussion.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Peace Talks

Nordic Women Mediators’ Network visits Cyprus

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Nordic_Women_Mediators_-_CyprusA delegation of Norwegian members of the Nordic Women Mediators’ Network visited Cyprus from 26-31 May 2016, meeting UN officials, the bicommunal Technical Committee on Gender Equality, civil society and other gender stakeholders.

Launched in 2015, the Nordic Women Mediators’ Network is backed by Nordic governments and aims to increase the number of women involved in international peace mediation efforts.

Describing the meetings as “interesting and meaningful” for the women of Cyprus, UNFICYP Force Commander Kristin Lund noted that such exchanges were an important part of building support and pressure for the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1325, which in 2000 recognised the importance of including women at all levels of peace and security.

While in Cyprus, the delegation also met with Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci’s wife, Meral Akinci, UN Special Adviser on Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide, UN Secretary-General Special Representative on Cyprus, Lisa Buttenheim, diplomatic community members and local civil society.

The Republic of Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and illegally occupied 37 per cent of its territory. Anastasiades and Akinci have been engaged in UN-backed talks since May 2015, with a view to reunite the island under a federal system.

(sigmalive)

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Srilanka and Norway

Tore Hattrem visits Norwegian funded programme in Jaffna

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

sampanthan-Norwegian-State-Secretary-Tore-Hattrem-Norway’s State Secretary Tore Hattrem ( Conservative Party )  visited the Norwegian funded UNDP programme in Jaffna today (01).

Following is the text of a speech he delivered on the occasion.

“Dear Government Agent, dear UNDP-representative, dear representatives from the local community,

Thank you very much for the warm welcome. I am very happy to be back in your lovely country. Sri Lanka means something special to me and I often think of all the good memories that I have from my term as Ambassador of Norway in Sri Lanka 7 years ago.

I am pleased to be here at this occasion with my colleagues from the Embassy of Norway and the members from the UN country Team in the newly released Valalai area in the Jaffna District today.

As a Norwegian, the fishery sector is close to my heart because the fishery industry is very important to the Norwegian economy with its contribution to export, income and employment generation in Norway.

Norway has a longstanding development co-operation with Sri Lanka. Some of you may remember that Norway has assisted the fisheries sector in the North decades ago and that cooperation was commonly known as “CEYNOR” which was a joint venture between Sri Lanka then known as (Ceylon) and Norway.

With assistance from Norway, several projects to improve the fishing industry were undertaken throughout the coastal areas of the island. The CEYNOR funded factory was built in Karainagar and Kurunagar to build boats and to manufacture fishing nets.

And earlier this year, Norway accepted a request from the Ministry of Fishery to assist further within the fishery sector.

In recent years, our assistance mainly focused on supporting vulnerable communities in the Northern Province. A major part of the support has been extended through the UN Organisations and civil society organisations to enhance the livelihood opportunities of the affected communities.

It is very important for people to return to their original places and re- established their lives. Therefore, the Norwegian Government has decided to financially support people to re-start the livelihood activities and promote the resettlement process.

Here in Valalai and adjoining villages, we support livelihood opportunities for targeted communities in fisheries, agriculture, livestock and alternative income-generating activities. We know you are among the first to return and that many of you have been displaced for a very long time. We understand that you face challenges when you are coming back to your own land. That you have moved back is an important symbol for the new Sri Lanka.

I am happy to be present at this occation when boats, engines, fishing gears, and some agriculture equipment is distributed for you to start your livelihoods. I sincerely hope that you will be able to re-establish your lives in your areas of origin. We hope you will contribute with hard work, and are able to rebuild your community and lives on your own land.”

Tore Hattrem was appointed State Secretary at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in September 2015. His main areas of responsibility are security policy, the High North, matters relating to the US, Russia, Eurasia and Canada, humanitarian affairs and human rights.

Mr Hattrem has been with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 1992, during which time he has gained broad diplomatic experience. Prior to his current appointment, he was Director General of the Department for Regional Affairs. He served as Ambassador to Afghanistan from 2010 to 2012, and as Ambassador to Sri Lanka from 2007 to 2010. Before that, he was Deputy Director General and Head of the Section for Peace and Reconciliation (2002–2007).

He has been Adviser in the UN Security Council Unit (2000–2002), and he has been posted to the Permanent Mission of Norway to the UN and the WTO in Geneva (1997–2000), and to the Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi (1994–1997). He has also worked in the UN Section (1992–1993).

Before joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he worked as Senior Executive Officer in the Ministry of Finance, and as officer in the Norwegian Armed Forces for several years.

Mr Hattrem has previously headed the Norwegian facilitation team in the peace process between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front (a communist movement in the Philippines).

Mr Hattrem holds a Master degree in Political Science (Cand. Polit.), and a B.Sc. in Economics and Political Science. He graduated from the Norwegian Officer Candidate School in 1982.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Defence

Lithuania eyes Norwegian air defense system

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Lithuania-eyes-Norwegian-air-defense-systemLithuania is to hold talks with Norway on procuring the Norwegian Advanced Surface to Air Missile System.

The decision on talks for the medium-range defense system was made late last week by the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defense.

“We have decided to open negotiations with the Norwegian government on possible purchase of the NASAMS systems,” Lithuania’s Defense Minister Juozas Olekas told the Baltic News Service, but no details of possible system price was disclosed.

“This could simply defend our airspace in the medium range,” the minister said. “We have short-range aircraft defense systems that can reach three to five kilometers [about 1.8 to 3.1 miles], and this will be the medium range where missiles fly dozens of kilometers and can take down targets at an altitude of 15 kilometers [about 9.3 miles].”

Lithuania has been boosting its military capabilities following Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea region and Moscow’s military activities in the Baltic Sea region.

The Baltic Times said Lithuania’s 2016 defense budget is nearly $539.6 million, with plans to increase it by about $166.8 million in 2017.

(upi)

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Economics

Norwegian sovereign fund should act on tax transparency, MPs say

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Screen Shot 2016-06-01 at 23.51.22Norway’s sovereign wealth fund should encourage companies within its portfolio to be more transparent about their tax affairs, according to the country’s Parliament.

In a report by the Storting’s cross-party finance committee, its 18 members unanimously backed a call for Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM) to publish details of how it expects companies to conduct their tax affairs.

In a chapter of the report examining the existence of tax havens, the committee said it believed improving reporting and tax transparency requirements for companies in which the NOK7.1trn (€763bn) Government Pension Fund Global (GPFG) invested would “counteract” the secrecy prevalent in some jurisdictions.

It added that increased transparency would result in better-functioning financial markets and therefore urged the Norwegian government to have NBIM draft an expectation document on tax affairs.

While the publication of an expectation document is not a foregone conclusion, the government has previously heeded unanimous recommendations by the finance committee.

The committee previously called for NBIM to publish an expectation document on human rights, which it released in February.

NBIM is not averse to examining tax affairs and last year analysed the corporate governance risk associated with a number of its holdings, including their tax affairs, according to the fund’s 2015 responsible investment report.

The committee further called on the government to examine the holding structures used by NBIM to invest in real estate and report on the manager’s approach as part of the 2016 year-end annual report on the management of the sovereign fund, due to be published in the spring of 2017.

MPs said it was important the “advantages and disadvantages” of different organisational structures be properly explored, noting the NBIM’s previous commitment to look at grouping its real estate holdings into regional Norwegian-owned holding companies.

In a letter to the Ministry of Finance in November last year, NBIM chief executive Yngve Slyngstad and central bank governor Øystein Olsen explained the use of subsidiaries to manage its real estate exposure.

Their letter states: “Investing through subsidiaries is the most common way of organising unlisted real estate investments and serves to make the investments more marketable.

“The Bank is currently exploring the possibility of grouping its subsidiaries into regional holding structures for Europe, the US and Asia.

“In this context, we are considering whether it would be appropriate to use Norwegian rather than foreign holding companies.”

The letter also calls for the GPFG’s real estate allocation to be raised to 10% – a request unheeded by the government, which instead opted for a 7% upper limit.

(ipe)

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Russia and Norway

Norway eyes Russian activity

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

8f630f21Russian naval presence in the North Atlantic and High North areas is beginning to bring about the revisited notion of collective defence in the maritime domain, according to Norwegian State Secretary for Defense Oystein Bø.

Speaking at UDT 2016 in Oslo, where he delivered the inaugural speech for the event, Bø said that Russia had shown itself to have new maritime capabilities and had increased its presence in the High North waters.

‘Russian armed forces are training more often and of an increasingly complex nature, and is occurring without advanced notification. This is a revisitation of the bastion concept [used by the Soviet Navy during the Cold War],’ he said.

‘[Russia] has an increase in its ability to conduct anti-access area denial in the North Atlantic and add to this the allied presence in the High North has been gradually reduced.’

Bø was at pains to say that Norway did not consider Russia a military threat, but that it was in the interest of all Arctic states that the area remained stable.

‘We would like to see a more frequent allied presence in the High North and North Atlantic and to invest in maritime capabilities to ensure it remains politically and militarily credible.’

Bø added that Norway is in the final stages of concluding a new long-term plan of action for its Armed Forces, key among those was the need to replace the P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft (MPA), the procurement of a new fleet of submarines to replace the ageing Ula-class, investment in ISR capabilities and to remain committed to the F35 Joint Strike Fighter.

The Norwegian Defence White Paper is due on 17 June, which will outline procurement plans through the 2020s and 2030s. Bø said that they would strive towards meeting the 2% military spending target that all NATO members aimed for, but did caution that it was as important to ensure that what was spent was done so wisely.

On the Norwegian defence industry, Bø stated that while small, there had been some notable successes, as seen with its work in unmanned technology, missile systems and remote operator stations produced by indigenous companies.

Submarines meanwhile remained a leading influencer on the seascape, thanks to the ability to conduct surveillance and covert operations, but acknowledged the increasing cost per unit of modern platforms needed to be taken into account.

‘We have to get more bang for our buck… new technology is driving more efficient operational solutions [and] the tasks are increasingly more challenging.’

In the morning session on 1 June, a senior military officer present said that hybrid military operations, similar to those witnessed in Ukraine, were also beginning to be seen in the underwater domain. This activity served to highlight some of the challenges facing navies in a changing seascape, he said.

A representative from an industry company meanwhile said that platforms were getting more expensive and larger, particularly in the undersea domain. In an effort to extract the maximum value from its own submarine fleet, Germany would test the notion of mustering two crews for one vessel in order to enable its continuous use over the next two years.

Manpower was also a hot topic during the opening morning of the event, as defence officials spoke of the difficulties in ensuring crews remained motivated during long absences at sea and the need to avoid a boom and bust cycle of platform readiness.

(UDT)

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Asia and Norway

Myanmar youth to present on joblessness in Norway

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

myanmar-youth-telenorA young Myanmar man will be representing his country and his region in Oslo, Norway in December, thanks to his eloquence and debating skills.

Ko Phyo Thura Htay, one of three young Myanmar to attend last week’s Asia Youth Forum in Bangkok, was invited to the World Youth Forum after his presentation on unemployment.

The May 25-26 forum brought together 27 young people from 13 Asian countries. Arkar Min Aung and Ma Hsu Wai Soe also represented Myanmar.

Ko Phyo Thura Htay and four team-mates from India, Pakistan, Thailand and Malaysia drew on their personal experience, including the suicide from depression of a family member, to illustrate the effects of joblessness on young people.

A veteran of such events, Ko Phyo Thura Htay also attended the 2015 World Youth Forum.

“We were given the assignment to talk about unemployment last month. Now we will polish our arguments and present them again in Oslo,” said Ko Phyo Thura Htay.

Liv Torres, executive director of the Nobel Peace Centre who served as a mentor to the winning group, said she had been impressed by the young people’s enthusiasm.

“I don’t think they want to go Oslo for the sight-seeing, but to develop their ideas. They are very ambitious young people who want to contribute to their communities,” she said, adding that the team members would be keeping in touch as they continue to exchange ideas for their presentation.

UNICEF senior adviser on innovation Tanya Accone said the need to make the presentation put a lot of pressure on the participants. “I know about the IT development and job opportunities in Myanmar and young people’s interest in project management, so each participant can share ideas and support each other,” she said.

0 comments
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestThreadsBlueskyEmail
Newer Posts
Older Posts
@2025 - All Right Reserved. Designed and Developed by Norway News