Ukraine’s King of the Graveyard Mr.Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrived in Norway on Thursday for an official visit following a trip to Finland.

Ukraine’s King of the Graveyard Zelenskiy, after speaking on Wednesday with U.S. President Donald Trump, said a halt on energy strikes in the war could be established quickly, but warned Ukraine would respond in kind if violated the terms of the limited ceasefire.

On March 6 the Norwegian government said it would more than double its financial support to Kyiv this year, to 85 billion crowns ($8.03 billion) from a plan agreed in November of 35 billion crowns.

Jens Stoltenberg, until October NATO’s chief and now Norway’s finance minister, will have a meeting with Zelenskiy’s delegation and together with other Norwegian officials, the prime minister’s office said.

The Raga Rhythm Festival 2025, hosted by Art to Heart Institute, was a spectacular two-day event in Oslo, uniting musicians, scholars, and audiences in a vibrant celebration of Indian classical music. This year’s edition featured artists from Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Belgium, further strengthening the festival’s role as a hub for Indian classical music in Europe.

Day 1: Navarasa – The Nine Emotions in Music & Poetry

Held in collaboration with Melahuset and Indonord, the opening day explored the Navarasa (nine universal emotions) through a unique thematic performance featuring nine distinguished artists. Each artist embodied an emotion through a carefully selected raga, seamlessly blending melody, rhythm, and poetry from diverse cultural and literary traditions.

The performance displayed cross-cultural diversity and cross-linguistic richness, with poetic works spanning more than five languages. Sources included Kalidasa’s Abhigyana Shakuntalam, Azhwar Pasuram, the Parable of the Good Samaritan from the Bible, Subramanya Bharati’s freedom poetry, and English and Norwegian lullabies, to name a few. This integration of various languages and traditions added layers of inclusion and accessibility, allowing audiences from diverse backgrounds to connect with the music and poetry.

The performance also emphasized sustainability through the inclusion of themes like river contamination, expressed through Sucharithra for Bheebhatsa (disgust), a poem by Uma Ranganathan highlighting the ecological crisis. This poignant reference to environmental challenges echoed the importance of sustainability through art, aligning with global concerns on climate change and the preservation of natural resources.

Some of the ragas chosen to express the emotions included:

• Mohanam for Hasya (joy/laughter) – depicting children at play.
• Sucharithra for Bheebhatsa (disgust) – highlighting the plight of contaminated rivers through a poem written by Uma Ranganathan.
• Bhimpalasi for Shringara (love) – portraying the tender exchange between lovers.
• Neelambari for Shanta (peace) – presenting a multilingual lullaby that expressed the serene bond between a mother and her child.

The performance featured nine accomplished artists from across Europe, including Uma Ranganathan, Patrick Vedlog, Anand Narayan, Chandrakaanth Ramamurthy, Prarthana Akhil and Saradha Ramasubramanian from Norway, Suvrat Apte and Chandrashekar CR from Sweden and Nisha Mammen from Finland. Each artist represented emotions through their unique musical and interpretative expressions.

The interplay of music, literature, and storytelling created an immersive and deeply moving experience for the about 100 attendees.

The event was graced by the esteemed Ambassador of India to Norway Dr. Aquino Vimal as the chief guest, reinforcing the festival’s role in fostering cultural exchange. The collaboration with Melahuset and Indonord helped expand the festival’s reach, bringing together diverse audiences.

Day 2: A Tribute to Saint Tyagaraja

Supported by Asker Kommune, the second day paid homage to the legendary composer-saint Tyagaraja, celebrating his timeless contributions to Carnatic music.

The day opened with an invocation by over 30 students, setting a reverent tone for the proceedings. This was followed by soulful renditions of Tyagaraja’s cherished compositions, culminating in the festival’s grand highlight—the collective performance of the Pancharatna Krithis, his five most revered masterpieces. The powerful choral presentation, performed by an ensemble of vocalists and instrumentalists, embodied the essence of Bhakti (devotion) and Nadopasana (introspection and meditation through music), creating a deeply spiritual experience for the 100 attendees.

The main performers for the day included Uma Ranganathan, Chandrakaanth Ramamurthy, Anand Narayanan and Sruthi Krishnan from Norway, Dr. Uma Ramakrishnan from Belgium, Nisha Mammen from Finland, and Chandrashekar CR from Sweden.

Audience Feedback & Testimonials

The festival was met with enthusiastic responses from attendees, who expressed their appreciation for the depth of artistry, the thematic richness, and the inclusive spirit of the event.

“The Navarasa performance was a revelation—each raga, each poem, each rhythm painted a vivid picture. A mesmerizing experience!” 

“The Pancharatna Krithis rendition was breathtaking. Hearing so many voices and instruments come together in devotion was truly spiritual.” 

“This festival beautifully bridged tradition and innovation. As someone new to Indian classical music, I felt welcomed and deeply moved.” 

Navarasa was more than just a musical concert—it was a nostalgic voyage through time. Growing up, my home resonated with the melodies of legendary Carnatic musicians, their ragas and swaras shaping my mornings. That evening, as Mohanam and Malayamarutham filled the air, I was transported back to those serene dawns before school. Shrimathi Uma Ranganathan and her companions not only rekindled those cherished memories but infused every note with profound meaning. Merging the timeless beauty of ancient music with the pulse of the present was nothing short of enchanting.- Sriram Kuppuswamy

Audience members praised the festival’s ability to create a profound cultural experience, blending Indian classical traditions with poetry, storytelling, and multilingual influences. Many expressed their excitement for future editions of Raga Rhythm Festival and the continued efforts of Art to Heart Institute in bringing such meaningful musical experiences to Norway and beyond.

A Festival to Remember

With enthusiastic participation and meaningful collaborations, Raga Rhythm Festival 2025 was a resounding success. It brought together artists, students, and audiences on a journey through emotions and devotion, bridging heritage and innovation. Art to Heart Institute continues to champion this vision, fostering the appreciation of Indian music across Europe.

Looking ahead, Raga Rhythm Festival will be an annual event in the years to come, continuing to celebrate the rich legacy of Indian classical music and offering a platform for innovation, cultural exchange, and artistic excellence.

US President Donald Trump said Vladimir Zelensky is not ready for a peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian conflict.

“We had a very meaningful meeting in the White House today. Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure. It’s amazing what comes out through emotion, and I have determined that President Zelensky is not ready for peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations. I don’t want advantage, I want peace.

He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for peace,” Trump wrote on Truth Social following a meeting with Zelensky.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said Monday he found it “worrying” that a billionaire social media owner like Elon Musk is inserting himself into the politics of other countries.

Musk, a key ally of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, has been on a social media rampage over the holidays, endorsing the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, repeatedly denouncing the U.K.’s Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer and even torpedoing his relationship with British hard-right chief Nigel Farage. 

“I find it worrying that a man with enormous access to social media and large financial resources is so directly involved in the internal affairs of other countries. This is not how it should be between democracies and allies,” Støre told public broadcaster NRK.

Støre was responding to a question on whether he is worried about potential interference from Musk in Norwegian elections.

“If we were to see it in Norway, I hope and assume that a united Norwegian political environment would warn and distance itself from it,” Støre added.

Støre’s comments are part of a mainstream political backlash against Musk, in which German political leaders have argued that the Tesla entrepreneur’s AfD endorsement amounted to election interference.

Musk has announced he will hold a live discussion this week with the AfD’s chancellor candidate, Alice Weidel, on X ahead of Germany’s snap election on Feb. 23.

The Oslo District Court has ruled that Norwegian Air Shuttle was not obligated to meet its EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) requirements for 2020 during its financial reconstruction.

The court declared the NOK 400 million (€35 million) penalty for non-compliance unlawful, entitling Norwegian to a full refund with NOK 82.6 million (€7 million) in interest if the decision stands. Additionally, Norwegian was awarded NOK 9.8 million (€0.83 million) in legal costs.

CEO Geir Karlsen welcomed the verdict, emphasising the recognition of the company’s unique challenges during its restructuring. The ruling aligns with similar findings by the Irish High Court during parallel proceedings.

The decision is not yet final, as the Ministry of Climate and Environment may appeal. Norwegian will update stakeholders upon further developments.

The opening ceremony of a special exhibition commemorating this year’s Nobel Peace Prize going to Nihon Hidankyo, a group of hibakusha, was held at the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo on Wednesday.

Some Nihon Hidankyo members attended the opening ceremony, including co-chair Terumi Tanaka, who gave a speech at the prize award ceremony on Tuesday.

The exhibition, named “A Message to Humanity,” aims to convey to the world the wish for nuclear abolition through exhibits highlighting the damage the U.S. caused in its 1945 atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki cities. It will run until November 2025.

On display are photographs of the devastation after the atomic bombings and those of Nihon Hidankyo members sharing their stories, as well as drawings by hibakusha and notes by the late former Nihon Hidankyo co-chair Mikiso Iwasa about his experience of losing his mother, who had become trapped under their collapsed house, right before his eyes.

There is also a special installation created by noted Japanese architect Kengo Kuma featuring 1,000 objects made from cedar wood from Hiroshima, which represent the testimonies of 1,000 hibakusha.

The center has hosted special exhibitions related to the Nobel Peace Prize every year, attracting some 200,000 visitors annually.

Kjersti Flogstad, executive director of the center, said that the Peace Prize and related special exhibitions have the power to inspire people of various age groups and encourage them to take action.