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NORWAY NEWS – latest news, breaking stories and comment – NORWAY NEWS
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Saturday, November 8, 2025
NORWAY NEWS – latest news, breaking stories and comment – NORWAY NEWS
NORWAY NEWS – latest news, breaking stories and comment – NORWAY NEWS
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Copyright 2025- All Right Reserved Norway News
Crimes

Ukrainian stabbed to death in Norway

by Nadarajah Sethurupan June 24, 2024
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

A refugee from Ukraine in his 20s was murdered in the municipality of Karmøy in southwestern Norway last weekend, and the suspect has been taken into custody.

Source: Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The incident occurred in the Karmøy district, where municipal housing is located, on the evening of 14 June. A man from Ukraine, who relied partially on a wheelchair, was stabbed to death.

The police detained a Norwegian man, also in his early 20s, at the scene. He has been charged with murder and is currently in custody, but he has not been willing to give a statement to the police.

Prosecutor Siri Anne Flindall told Dagbladet that the accused and the deceased had been neighbours. They resided in the Karmøy area, where municipal housing is situated. This area accommodates people requiring additional care or undergoing treatment for drug addiction.

In response, Sigurd Rønningen, the lawyer representing the detained Norwegian, has claimed that the deceased man had repeatedly threatened his client, even with death. Consequently, he is requesting an investigation into the matter.

The Norwegian police are currently refusing to comment on the circumstances of the case.

Background: Earlier this month, seven individuals accused following the death of a Ukrainian citizen at the Wrocław centre for individuals under the influence of alcohol in Poland were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 1.5 to 5 years.

June 24, 2024 0 comments
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Asia and Norway

Kazak to step up cooperation with Norway in digital administration

by Nadarajah Sethurupan June 14, 2024
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Norway Adil Tursunov met with the Minister of Digitalization and Public Governance of Norway Karianne Oldernes and discussed the prospects for bilateral cooperation in info-communication technologies, Kazinform News Agency cites the press service of the Kazakh Foreign Ministry.

Photo credit: press service of the Kazakh Foreign Ministry

Adil Tursunov informed the Norwegian Minister about the current developments in Kazakhstan aimed at implementation of broad political and economic reforms initiated by President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, as well as on the modernization of public administration in our country.

The Norwegian Minister praised Kazakhstan’s achievements in the fields of digitalization, information technology and public administration. At the same time Karianne Tung expressed readiness to intensify Kazakh-Norwegian cooperation in these areas.

The Ambassador of Kazakhstan invited the Norwegian Minister to visit Astana and take part in international digital and public governance forums to be held in our country in 2024-2025.

Adil Tursunov and Karianne Oldernes agreed to continue contacts in the future.

June 14, 2024 0 comments
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Russia and Norway

The fifth anniversary festival Russian Word was held in Voronezh Russian oldest city  

by Nadarajah Sethurupan June 11, 2024
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

The Russian Word Festival was held in Voronezh, as in one of the literary centests of Russia. In the concert hall for two days it was the fifth anniversary, this festival is about patriotism and transformation and the formation of current meanings. The ideology of the festival is presented in poetry, philosophy, history.

Sergey Dvoryanov is leader of public diplomacy in Russia 

The opening was held solemnly with the participation of the Minister of Culture Maria Mazur, she emphasized that the festival program was fantastic and the concert too. Further, State Duma deputy Dmitry Kuznetsov spoke about Voronezh as a city with a 500-year history, which is a stronghold of the Russian land, a border territory previosly.

Zakhar Prilepin, the founder of the festival, unfortunately, could not attend this time, but the head of the Zakhar Prilepin Volunteer Foundation, Yuri Mezinov, opened a panel discussion on the topic “Missionary work beyond the material” and introduced the first speakers: Ulyana Strizh, Semyon Pegin, Petr Lundstrem, Sergey Moskalkov. The essence of cancel the  culture and its representatives were vigorously discussed. At the end of the discussion there was a selfie photo session with hearts with Ulyana Strizh.

In the evening there was a wonderful concert, where talented groups performed, such as “Lampasy”, who amazed with their cover version of folk song Stenka Razin, “25/17”, “Tales of the Black City”, etc. also performed. 

A lot of honored guests arrived from Moscow, to including Alexander Sholokhov, the grandson of the great writer, he expressed his opinion about M. Sholokhov’s book “They Fought for the Motherland” and about the village of Veshenskaya, where the writer’s museum of the same name is located.

One of the most vibrant and final discussions was about the “Spiritual meaning of Special military operation  and its possible scenarios.” The speakers were: Alexander Sekatsky, philosopher, Alexey Chadayev, political scientist, Gleb Ervie, military correspondent, Sergei Dvoryanov, Doctor of Philosophy, historian, leader of public diplomacy in Russia and President of the international diplomatic club Amicability, who charismatically gave a speech about what he proposed to think about why in the Russian symbol of the festival “Russian Summer” the lamb’s eyes are open, but the Madonna’s eyes are closed. “For me, the NWO is God’s blessing and a gift from the West.

The humanism of Soviet man, as an idea, has exhausted itself as a secular idea. If we talk about the meaning of the Northern Military District, look at the geography of Russia, it is simply doomed to fight, we have always been hardened in battle – this has made us stronger. While deputies are buying foreign real estate, or Pugacheva’s songs are being heard from Moscow venues, if not for the military operation, we would have exhausted ourselves from the inside, like corrosion eating away at people’s consciousness. Ilyin’s book “The Singing Heart” talks about the great tragedy of generations that they do not know the experience of prayer. Why not end the fifth anniversary festival with a beautiful, massive procession of the cross, then no one can a priori ignore the Russian Summer festival. It is known that perseverance is needed to win a war, this is our battle for spirituality, that’s why we are a nation of winners.”
Ingrida Kim, journalist and UN Ambassador for Peace, made a proposal to hold the forum abroad next year, for example, in African countries. Because even poetry unites Russia and Africa, since Pushkin’s great-grandfather was from Ethiopia.

Special thanks to the organizers, everything was at the highest level.
Ingrid Kim

June 11, 2024 0 comments
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Defence

US to Buy Norwegian Missile for its F-35A Aircraft

by Nadarajah Sethurupan June 5, 2024
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

American F-35As will soon be able to undertake long-range stand-off anti-surface strikes as the US government has signed a $141 million contract with Norway’s KDA (Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace) for acquiring the JSM (Joint Strike Missile), the DoD (Department of Defense) announced on May 31, 2024.

The “undefinitized contract action for the JSM production Lot 1, provides for all up rounds, containers, and test equipment for the JSM,” DoD said. “Work will be performed in Kongsberg, Norway, and is expected to be completed by August 31, 2026.” The procurement has been categorized as a “sole source acquisition,” meaning it has been effected without tendering and competitive bidding.

“The Joint Strike Missile (JSM) is an air-launched strike missile and is designed to fit into the internal weapons bay and to fulfil complex missions, such as ASuW (Anti-Surface Warfare) and land attack. The primary targets are typically highly defended and high-value assets on sea, in coastal waters or on land,” Kongsberg says. 

The JSM anti-ship missile installed in the internal compartment of the F-35A fighter. (Image credit: Kongsberg).

The JSM is the air-launched version of Kongsberh’s NSM (Naval Strike Missile). It flies at high-subsonic speeds, weights 416-kg at 4-meters long and has a range of around 275 km (150-nautical miles).

“(It) has an off-board, on-board and in-flight mission planning capability and can engage targets based on a predefined set of Rules-of-Engagement,” the company added. “The selection of JSMs by both the USAF and Royal Norwegian Air Force also fully supports NATO’s vision for interchangeability of equipment between allied nations,” a statement from the firm quoted Eirik Lie, KDA’s president. Development of the JSM was contracted by the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA).

This means the missile can be fed with target coordinates and information on the ground, prior to launch, sparing the pilot of the complicated target acquisition, engagement and launch sequences. It can serve to be a tactical handicap, especially against a peer adversary. This is much like the British-French Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG that has scored some battlefield successes against Russian ground targets, when launched from Ukrainian Su-24 Fencer fighter-bombers.

This also has massive utility in the predominantly maritime theater of the western Pacific before China. Here too, airborne anti-land and anti-shipping strikes would be an acute need against PLAN (People’s Liberation Army Navy) vessels and island bases in the SCS (South China Sea).

The F-35 cannot carry large missiles like the AGM-158C LRASM (Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile) and the AGM-158A JASSM (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile) inside its internal weapons bay in the underbelly. Carrying them on the external hardpoints would compromise stealth, which is unlikely to never be a priority in such a war. The LRASM is the air-launched ship-strike version of the JASSM.

The JSM version of the NSM is however compatible with the F-35’s internal weapons bay. A photo of the missile in the compartment suggests one unit can be easily carried in that section. In 2018, Kongsberg had called the project to integrate the JSM with the F-35 as the “Block-4 update.”

Reports said the JSM “was developed by Kongsberg as part of the JSF (Joint Strike Fighter) program” – the original project name for the F-35. “At that time, the missile was chosen as the main anti-ship weapon for F-35A/B/C fighter jets, as well as a complement to LRASM missiles for F/A-18 Super Hornet deck-based fighters.”

On Apr. 3, 2024, Lockheed Martin announced “successfully conducting a historic LRASM flight test with four missiles simultaneously in flight.” Subsequent reportssaid a pair of F/A-18E/F Super Hornets launched four LRASMs, which flew to the targets simultaneously. The test was representative of how these weapons might be employed in a future high-end conflict. A salvo of such missiles can also change course and alter their direction when on-board ESM (Electronic Support Measures) detect enemy AD or SAM (Surface-to-Air Missile) tracking.

Like the ship-borne NSM, the JSM too can be used against both ship and land-targets, making it versatile and allowing commanders significant tactical flexibility. Moreover, the F-35 itself is primarily a “strike fighter.”

It performs that role by operating as an airborne, tactical command post, trading data with other F-35s, Generation 4++ aircraft and other air and ground assets using its stealth, sensor fusion and enhanced situational awareness as its defining features.

Indeed, it is also a capable air-dominance plane with primary W/BVR (Within/Beyond Visual-Range) capability. But the JSM’s role is not only harmonious with the F-35’s core doctrinal orientation, but also consistent with the emerging defense technological needs before Russia and China. Here conventional land and surface strength of the two countries makes it difficult for Western allies to have complete air superiority.

June 5, 2024 0 comments
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Asylum

Oslo panelists slam Norway’s asylum policy for Turkish citizens

by Nadarajah Sethurupan May 29, 2024
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Panelists at an event organized by a rights group in Oslo on Tuesday criticized Norway’s approach to asylum applications from Turkish nationals, particularly those affiliated with the Gülen movement, a faith-based group outlawed by Ankara, and stressed that the Turkish government’s crackdown on the group has not abated.

The event, which aimed to shed light on human rights violations in Turkey, featured detailed accounts of ongoing persecution and called for more thorough assessments of asylum applications by Norwegian authorities.

Turkey accuses the Gülen movement, a faith-based group invested in education and relief work throughout the world and inspired by Muslim cleric Fethullah Gülen, of masterminding a failed coup in July 2016. The movement strongly denies any involvement in it.

Following the failed coup, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government launched a massive purge targeting real and alleged members of the movement under the pretext of an anti-coup fight, removing over 130,000 people from civil service jobs.

The AKP had designated the group as a terrorist organization before the coup and jailed tens of thousands on alleged membership in the movement, seizing schools, universities, media outlets, companies and their buildings and the assets of individuals, corporations and organizations that were believed to have had ties to the organization.

Selcuk Gültaşlı, former Brussels bureau chief of the now-closed Zaman daily, opened the panel by discussing the relentless oppression of Gülen movement members in Turkey following the coup attempt in July 2016.

The Zaman daily, which was Turkey’s best-selling newspaper, was closed down by the Turkish government following the abortive putsch due to its alleged links to the movement.

Gültaşlı emphasized that the Turkish government continues to target members of the movement across all walks of life despite claims by some European governments that persecution has decreased and that they are basing their reasons for rejecting asylum applications from Gülen members on this.

Prof. Em. Dr. Johan Vande Lanotte, a former deputy prime minister of Belgium and reputed professor in international human rights law who has extensively studied the Turkish judicial system, argued that the foundations of the persecution have not changed.

He pointed to the Yalçınkaya case, where the European Court of Human Rights identified significant legal shortcomings in Turkey’s terrorism convictions. Vande Lanotte highlighted that despite some judicial reforms, the Turkish government’s stance towards the Gülen movement remains aggressively unchanged, with thousands still facing prosecution.

Teacher Yüksel Yalçınkaya was sentenced in 2017 to more than six years in prison over his alleged links to the Gülen movement.

His conviction was based on his bank account, labor union membership and use of a mobile messaging application called ByLock.

Turkish officials expressed their intent to implement the Yalçınkaya ruling as an isolated case instead of interpreting it as a precedent.

Experts such as the Turkish Bar Association and prominent jurist Tolga Şirin have called on the Turkish government to abide by the Yalçınkaya judgment.

In the meantime, reports indicated ongoing waves of detention of people over ByLock use despite the Yalçınkaya ruling.

Following the coup attempt in 2016, the Turkish government summarily removed some 4,000 judges and prosecutors from their jobs due to alleged Gülen links.

Many experts and observers said the post-coup purges had a chilling effect on the remaining members of the judiciary.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government has also been accused of replacing the purged judicial members with young and inexperienced judges and prosecutors who have close links to the ruling AKP.

In a development that confirmed the erosion of the Turkish judiciary, Turkey was ranked 117th among 142 countries in the 2023 Rule of Law Index published by the World Justice Project (WJP) in late October, dropping one place in comparison to the previous year.

Ragnar Nes, a Norwegian philosopher and human rights activist, provided personal anecdotes to illustrate the severity of the situation. He described his experiences with Turkish communities and the intense polarization that persists.

Jørgen Lorentzen, a Norwegian literary scholar, questioned the integrity of a recent country information report by Norwegian authorities, which has been used to deny asylum claims. He criticized the superficial nature of the report, noting that it undermines the gravity of the ongoing human rights abuses in Turkey. Lorentzen called for immediate action to address the discrepancies in the asylum process, stressing the need for a thorough, evidence-based approach.

Ola Elvestuen, a member of the Norwegian parliament, acknowledged the criticism and expressed concern over the potential misjudgments in asylum decisions. He emphasized that individual cases of persecution should not be overlooked due to broader political dynamics and affirmed the importance of upholding Norway’s reputation as a champion of human rights.

The panel also featured emotional testimony from Turkish asylum seekers, including Müberra Bilgebal, who shared her family’s plight following her father’s imprisonment for his affiliation with the Gülen movement. Her account underscored the ongoing risks faced by returnees to Turkey, challenging the notion that the situation has improved.

In closing, the panelists urged Norwegian authorities to re-evaluate their “country information” and ensure that decisions regarding asylum seekers are based on comprehensive and accurate reports. They called for continued international pressure on Turkey to address its human rights record and to support those fleeing persecution.

President Erdoğan has been targeting followers of the Gülen movement, inspired by Turkish Muslim cleric Fethullah Gülen, since the corruption investigations of December 17-25, 2013, which implicated then-prime minister Erdoğan, his family members and his inner circle.

Dismissing the investigations as a Gülenist coup and conspiracy against his government, Erdoğan designated the movement as a terrorist organization and began to target its members. He intensified the crackdown on the movement following the abortive putsch in 2016 that he accused Gülen of masterminding. Gülen and the movement strongly deny involvement in the coup attempt or any terrorist activity.

In addition to the thousands who were jailed, scores of other Gülen movement followers had to flee Turkey to avoid the government crackdown.

May 29, 2024 0 comments
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Terrorist

Norway expects Israel to implement ICJ order

by Nadarajah Sethurupan May 24, 2024
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

The Friday ruling that ordered Israel to halt its military onslaught on Rafah, southern Gaza Strip is “important” and Norway expects Israel to implement it, the Nordic country’s foreign minister said.

“Today’s ruling from the International Court of Justice is important,” Espen Barth Eide told Anadolu, saying the court reinforced the previously ordered measures that “Israel must abide by.”

The ICJ’s order came after a request by South Africa for additional provisional measures as part of its case accusing Israel of violating the 1948 Genocide Convention in the Gaza conflict.

The UN court, besides reaffirming its Jan. 26 and March 28 orders, also ordered Israel to keep Rafah border crossing open, provide “unimpeded access” to investigators looking into allegations of genocide, and report back on the progress within one month.

“I expect Israel to implement the measures,” Eide said, highlighting the importance of complying with legally binding orders.

“Respect for the Court and its functions, including the authority to order provisional measures, is essential to strengthen international law and the international legal order,” he added.

Israel on May 6 launched a ground offensive in Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians had taken refuge from war that began last October. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) estimates that more than 800,000 people have since fled the city.

Israel’s air and ground attacks for over seven months has killed more than 35,000 Palestinians in Gaza, reduced much of the territory to rubble, and led to conditions of famine.

Israel was earlier ordered to ensure its forces do not commit acts of genocide and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in the blockaded enclave.

Norway, along with Ireland and Spain, announced this week that it will formally recognize a Palestinian state from May 28.

May 24, 2024 0 comments
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Diplomatic relations

Statement by USA Secretary Blinken on Norway’s National Day

by Nadarajah Sethurupan May 17, 2024
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

On behalf of the United States of America, I extend heartfelt congratulations to the people of Norway as they celebrate Constitution Day.

People with flags on Oslo’s main street to celebrate Norway’s national day. – GETTY

As friends, Allies, and fellow Arctic nations, the United States and Norway stand together in pursuit of common goals, such as promoting regional security and sustainable, inclusive economic prosperity. We also join together to advance the green transition, addressing energy needs and the global climate crisis together. Over the past year, our relationship has grown even stronger with the opening of the U.S. diplomatic presence post in Tromsø.

As fellow founding NATO members celebrating 75 years of the Alliance, we have long been united by our common values, as defined in both of our Constitutions. The United States commends Norway for its plan to reach NATO’s shared commitment to spend at least 2 percent of its gross domestic product on defense during this calendar year.

Norway’s leadership in the face of Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine has shown how these guiding principles unite us in the face of authoritarian regimes. The Nansen Program remains an exemplary long-term commitment to support the people of Ukraine.

On this special day, we reaffirm our commitment to the strong and enduring friendship between our two nations, as guided by our shared belief in democracy, freedom, and the rule of law.

Gratulerer med dagen, Norway! May our partnership continue to thrive, bringing peace, prosperity, and progress to both our nations and the world.

May 17, 2024 0 comments
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Economics

Spanish will supply trains for the Oslo metro

by Nadarajah Sethurupan May 16, 2024
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

The Spanish company CAF has signed a contract to supply trains for the Oslo metro totaling 150 million euros, this is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The new trains, specifically designed for the Norwegian capital, will be equipped with everything necessary to operate in harsh weather conditions.

The public transport operator Oslo Sporveien has ordered 20 trains with the option to purchase an additional 90.

The three-car, double-sided trains will be used on the T-Bane network and will be adapted based on the INNEO CAF platform, taking into account the city’s climate characteristics.

The contract includes spare parts and provisions for equipping the rolling stock with motor bogies and onboard batteries.

CAF is also prepared to ensure the readiness of the trains for full automation for autonomous driving in the future.

May 16, 2024 0 comments
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Media Freedom

Norwegian hosts Afghan and Taliban

by Nadarajah Sethurupan May 15, 2024
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

The Human Rights Research Society in Norway has announced a two-day meeting between members of Afghan civil society, including civil activists and the Taliban representatives.

The session, held in Oslo, the capital of Norway, on Tuesday, May 4, has invited Richard Bennett, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan.

The Human Rights Research Society in Norway stated on its “X” page that this meeting will address topics such as the future of the Doha talks, humanitarian aid, increased protection opportunities for at-risk Afghans, and discussions on Richard Bennett’s future report.

Meanwhile, Richard Bennett tweeted that he was inspired by his meeting with Afghan civil activists, particularly women activists.

During this session, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights has also addressed women’s and children’s rights.

Simultaneously, reports indicate that this meeting has faced criticism from other social activists and human rights advocates in Oslo and other European cities. They argue that Taliban representatives should not be given the opportunity to gain recognition, and they are calling for the recognition of gender apartheid in Afghanistan.

While complete details of the participating members of Afghan civil society have not yet been determined, some media outlets have reported that figures like Fatima Gilani, Kavon Kaker, Asila Wardak, Momena Yari, Haris Sighani, Abdulqayum Sajjadi, former parliament representative, former negotiator General Ansari, Engela Ahmadi, Karim Amin, senior member of the Islamic Party, and Qaraman Kakar, Faiz Mohammad Osmani, make up the Afghan civil society.

On the other hand, Najibullah Motmaen, Qazi Saeed Mashk Alam, Matiullah Mohammadi, Jafar Mahdavi, Saleh Mazari, Sayed Younus Agha, Hadi Zaker, and Fayaz Zaland represent the Taliban at this session.

May 15, 2024 0 comments
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Taiwan and Norway

Norwegian shipbuilder Vard contracted by Taiwan company

by Nadarajah Sethurupan May 14, 2024
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

The Norwegian shipbuilding company Vard has accepted a contract with a Taiwanese client to build two Commissioning Service Operation Vessels (CSOVs), it was reported on Friday (May 10). 

The CSOVs will boost Taiwan’s capacity to harness energy from offshore wind farms. The vessels will be used to help install wind farms off Taiwan’s coast, with the first expected to be delivered in late 2026, and the second in early 2027, reported Maritime Link. 

The new ships will reportedly be of the Vard 4-39 model, measuring 102.3 meters long and 19.5 meters at their widest point. The ships can house up to 120 crew members at maximum capacity per reports. 

The name of the Taiwanese client was not included in the announcement from Vard. Previously, Vard was contracted by the Ta San Shang Marine Company, to build the TSS Pioneer, a first of its kind service operation vessel (SOV). 

After its construction at Vard’s shipyard in Vietnam, the TSS Pioneer was delivered in 2022, and it is currently commissioned on a 15-year contract with Orsted, working on the Greater Changhua Offshore Windfarm, per Maritime Executive.   

May 14, 2024 0 comments
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Diplomatic relations

Norway calls for accountability after attack in East Jerusalem

by Nadarajah Sethurupan May 12, 2024
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Norway on Friday called for accountability after Israeli extremists attacked the headquarters of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) in the occupied East Jerusalem.

Expressing that he was “shocked” by the attack, Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said on X: “As host country, Israel has a duty to protect UN personnel and premises at any time.”

He said that UNRWA is the “lifeline for millions of Palestine refugees,” adding: “The incidents must be investigated, those responsible must be held accountable.”

On Thursday night, Israeli extremists set fire twice to the perimeter of the agency’s headquarters while the staff was on the compound, putting lives at serious risk, according to UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini.

Protesters were chanting “burn down the United Nations,” and UN staff had to put out the fire themselves.

May 12, 2024 0 comments
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Economics

Norwegian with 19 million seats and 47 routes

by Nadarajah Sethurupan May 8, 2024
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Norwegian gears up for a bustling summer season, offering nearly 19 million seats across over 100,000 flights and introducing 47 new routes. Popular destinations like France, Italy, and Turkey are among the highlights of the airline’s summer programme.

This year’s summer schedule sees a ten percent increase in capacity compared to 2023, with a significant focus on Denmark, featuring 17 new routes. Despite economic factors like high interest rates and costs, there remains strong demand for summer travel among Norwegian customers.

Magnus Thome Maursund, Norwegian’s commercial director, emphasises the popularity of new routes to Lyon and Istanbul from Oslo, and Milan from Stavanger, noting the enduring appeal of sunny destinations. He highlights the strategic importance of investing in Denmark, Norwegian’s second largest market, for the summer season.

Norwegian has rolled out 47 new routes, with twelve already operational since April, fourteen set to commence in May, and twenty-one launching in June. Overall capacity has been boosted by 1.6 million seats compared to last year’s summer program.

Maursund advises travellers to book early, especially for sought-after destinations in Spain and Greece, which tend to fill up quickly. Additionally, he suggests exploring exciting alternatives in Italy for the summer holidays.

The airline’s new routes from Norway cover a diverse range of destinations, including Istanbul, Lyon, Basel, and Montpellier. Sandefjord Airport Torp and Stavanger will also see new routes to popular spots like Mallorca/Palma, Barcelona, and Milan/Bergamo. Evenes and Bergen airports will connect travellers to destinations such as Mallorca/Palma, Rhodes, and Edinburgh.

As Norwegian continues to expand its network and offerings, travellers can expect a diverse array of options for their summer adventures.

May 8, 2024 0 comments
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Diplomatic relations

Moldovan president on visit to Norway

by Nadarajah Sethurupan May 6, 2024
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Moldovan President Maia Sandu is on a state visit to the Kingdom of Norway on May 6-7 at the invitation of Their Majesties King Harald V and Queen Sonja. This is the first time that a Moldovan president has paid a state visit to Norway, the presidential press service has reported.

The official will also hold talks with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Speaker Masud Gharahkhani and members of the parliamentary committee on foreign affairs and defence.

Over the past two years, Norway has provided consistent support to the Republic of Moldova. Since the start of the war in Ukraine, through UN agencies and other international organisations, it has provided humanitarian support to help Ukrainian refugees and their host communities. Norway has also contributed funds to purchase natural gas and to support our war-affected economy.

In terms of economy, a year ago Moldova signed a free trade agreement with the European Free Trade Association, of which Norway is a member. The document, once ratified by Oslo, will open up new opportunities for Moldovan producers in a stable market with high purchasing power, while making our country more attractive to Norwegian investors.

As a sign of this growing bilateral relationship, Norway has announced that it will open a diplomatic office in Chisinau this summer.

May 6, 2024 0 comments
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Environment

GPU AI cloud taps Norway hydropower

by Nadarajah Sethurupan May 6, 2024
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Nscale has launched a sustainable high-performance GPU cloud in Norway using AMD chips and hydroelectric power.

Nscale is a vertically integrated GPU cloud spun out from Arkon Energy, a 300MW Data Centre and Hosting business in North America and the N1 Glomfjord data centre is one of the world’s first AMD technology-focused cloud service providers.

The low cost of the renewable energy in northern Norway makes the site one of the most cost-efficient for LLM and AI training hubs in the world.

Nscale owns and operates the full AI stack from its modular data centres to its high-performance compute clusters, allowing it to optimise each layer of the stack for performance and cost efficiency.

By using the enhanced memory bandwidth and capacity of the AMD Instinct MI300X accelerators and ROCm open ecosystem, Nscale can provide LLM and GenAI workloads for companies from startups to large enterprises for AI, deep learning, and big data analytics.

“Over the coming years, AI will proliferate into every enterprise, product, and service, driving unprecedented demand for AI infrastructure. By combining cutting-edge technology from AMD with Norway’s abundant, low-cost energy, we are offering a next-gen AI Cloud platform that is not only powerful but also sustainable and cost-effective,” said Josh Payne Co-Founder and CEO of Nscale.

“Nscale’s mission is to democratise high-performance computing to unleash the potential of AI. Our 100% renewable AI Cloud Services platform is vertically integrated from the power connection to the cloud, providing sustainable, high-performance, and low-cost compute for Enterprises, Research Institutions and AI Startups alike.”

“At AMD, we believe in the transformative power of AI and are excited to work with Nscale to deliver cloud instances of the AMD Instinct MI300X accelerator,” said Andrew Dieckmann, corporate vice president and general manager, AMD Instinct Business. “Through Nscale’s AI Cloud Services platform, the MI300X will deliver highly competitive Generative AI inferencing performance, leveraging the AMD ROCm open software ecosystem to enable a compelling TCO advantage to other market alternatives.”

May 6, 2024 0 comments
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Media Freedom

Norway accuses West of double standards 

by Nadarajah Sethurupan May 4, 2024
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Norway’s Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide on Monday accused the Western countries of double standards on the second day of the World Economic Forum held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

With brutal war unraveling in Gaza and Ukraine, the foreign minister argued that the West’s support for the war-torn European country, inherent in terms of respect for international law, has been absent when it comes to violations of international law in Gaza.

“Many Western countries hesitated to use the same type of language against violations of international humanitarian law, for instance, that we easily apply when they are violated in Ukraine,” Eide said.

The special meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) which began on Sunday is taking place amid the ongoing brutal Israeli war on Gaza in which more than 34,000 Palestinians were killed, mostly women and children, while tens of thousands are injured, missing, or uncounted for, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Faisal Bin Farhan described the situation in the Gaza Strip as a “catastrophe” at the meeting, adding that talking about half-measures in the Gaza Strip is “ridiculous,” and that the focus should be on the two-state solution.

The Gaza Strip will take 30 years to be rebuilt after the Israeli war, he said, while also pointing out that a UN report has suggested that it will take 14 years just to remove the rubble.

“The (Israeli) plans to expand military operations towards Rafah will only bring more suffering to the targeted and defenseless civilians in the Gaza Strip. The situation in Gaza obviously is a catastrophe by every measure,” Bin Farhan warned.

Over seven months into the onslaught, which came after Palestinian group Hamas launched a surprise attack that Israel said killed 1,200 people, vast swathes of Gaza lay in ruins, pushing 85% of the enclave’s population into internal displacement amid a crippling blockade of most food, clean water, and medicine, according to the UN.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice.

May 4, 2024 0 comments
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NATO and Norway

NATO in Ukraine to lead escalation — UK diplomat

by Nadarajah Sethurupan May 3, 2024
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Sending NATO units to Ukraine could lead to a dangerous escalation of the situation, there is no need for this step, UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron told Sky News.

Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron (L) and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin take part in a ceremony to award the Russian Ushakov medal to Arctic convoy veterans in 10 Downing Street, central London June 16, 2013. REUTERS/Anthony Devlin/Pool

Commenting on the words of French President Emmanuel Macron, who earlier reiterated that he could not rule out such a development of events, Cameron said: “I wouldn’t have NATO soldiers in the country because I think that could be a dangerous escalation. And it’s not necessary. We have trained, I think now, almost 60,000 Ukrainian soldiers.” “I don’t think it is right to have NATO soldiers killing Russian soldiers,” he added.

The top UK diplomat opined that Ukraine’s defeat in a conflict with Russia would create a “very dangerous future” because it would signal to China and Iran that aggression against their neighbors is acceptable.

“I think we are at an absolutely crucial tipping point in global affairs,” Cameron said, calling for increased aid to Kiev to “push out” Russia and secure a “just peace.”

May 3, 2024 0 comments
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Srilanka and Norway

Norwegian Meets Sri Lankan’s Challenges

by Nadarajah Sethurupan May 3, 2024
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

The Norwegian Ambassador to Sri Lanka, May Elin Stener, held a significant meeting with Sri Lankan Opposition Leader MP Sajith Premadasa on Thursday (May 2). 

The discussions primarily revolved around the current state of affairs in Sri Lanka, with MP Premadasa highlighting the nation’s economic crisis and outlining the Samagi Jana Balawegaya’s (SJB) strategies to tackle it. 

With the upcoming election looming large, MP Premadasa shed light on the SJB’s vision to revitalize the country following past governance issues and the rise of populist movements.

The meeting also saw the participation of Sri Lankan MPs Niroshan Perera and Kavinda Jayawardena alongside the Norwegian Ambassador and the second secretary of the Norwegian Embassy, Johan Bjerkem.

May 3, 2024 0 comments
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Asia and Norway

INDIA, NORWAY EXTEND COOPERATION IN HEALTH SECTOR

by Nadarajah Sethurupan May 3, 2024
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

India and Norway on Wednesday extended their cooperation in implementing various health schemes across multiple regions in India.

Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra and Deputy Ambassador of Norway Martine Aamdal Bottheim signed the documents marking the commencement of the 4th phase of Norway India Partnership Initiative (NIPI).

The Norway India Partnership Initiative (NIPI) was established in 2006, based on an agreement between the Governments of Norway and India to make sustainable efforts to reduce maternal, newborn and child mortality in India.

NIPI aims to provide strategic, catalytic and innovative support to India’s National Health Mission (NHM) by testing scalable interventions in four high focus states of Bihar, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan and UT of Jammu and Kashmir.

(ANI)

May 3, 2024 0 comments
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Srilanka and Norway

Norwegian Ambassador meets JVP in Sri Lanka

by Nadarajah Sethurupan May 2, 2024
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Norwegian Ambassador to India in New Delhi May-Elin Stener met National People’s Power (NPP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the JVP head office this afternoon. He also known by his initials AKD, is a Sri Lankan socialist politician. He is a Member of Parliament from the Colombo District, the current party leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (from 2014) and the National People’s Power (from 2019). A former presidential candidate in 2019, he has been named as the National People’s Power presidential candidate for the 2024 Sri Lankan presidential election.

He has been involved with the JVP since his school days and was active in student politics in university before joining the JVP politburo in 1995. He has been a member of parliament since September 2000, having been either appointed from the national list or elected, Dissanayake served as the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation from 2004 to 2005 and Chief Opposition Whip from 2015 to 2018. He was named the leader of JVP at the 7th National Convention of the party, held on 2 February 2014.

Second Secretary of the Norwegian Embassy John Bjerkem and NPP MP Vijitha Herath and Harini Amarasuriya attended the meeting.

The current political situation in the country and the economic crisis that Sri Lanka is facing were discussed at length, party sources said.

The two parties also discussed the elections to be held this year.

Attrocities of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) or Peoples’ Liberation Front

During the period 1987-1992 the JVP murdered hundreds of members of the working class in the South of the island in order to force people to join anti-government strikes. 

Just 15 year ago JVP attacked the holiest of Buddhist shrines, the sacred Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy and also the Katunayake International airport.

Information below is gathered from a news paper in Sri Lanka. (An official document marked ‘top secret’ listed killings that the JVP carried out during this time.)

Killed :

3210    Informants                   1735 Government supporters  487 Government servants

52        Educationists   (Including 50 Principals, a vice chancellor and a University professor)

70        Politicians        (35 were leading politicians)

Service personnel :

209      Security forces             342      Police personnel                      98        Home guards 

In 1989 alone, JVP murdered 24 Buddhist clergies (For refusing to bow to the Marxists principles)

Name of Buddihist Clergy  Buddhist Temple   Date
Rev. Poddalamulle Premaloka    18/12/1988 
Rev. Marambe Somaratana   31/12/1988
Rev. Angunakolapelasse Upali  07/01/1989
Rev. Kumbagoda Gunaloka   Mihintale Temple11/07/1987 
Rev. Kotikawatte Saddhatissa  03/08/1989 
Rev. Hemaloka  Nandimithra Temple –Pallama04/08/1989 
Rev. W. Pangnatisa Athurugiriya Temple 13/08/1989 
Rev. Soragune Pangnasara Rajamahaviharaya     20/08/1989 
Rev. Kirawanagama Pangnarama  27/08/1989
Rev. Welltota PangnadassiKithalagamuwa Temple30/08/1989
Rev. Pelpola Dharmapala Jayasumanaramaya04/09/1989
Rev. Muditha  Sri Sudharshanaramaya – Hiniduma05/09/1989 
Rev. Kahawa Wimalasiri Bodhirajaramaya09/09/1989 
Rev. Mahanuwara DammarakkithaBambarangala Temple18/09/1989 
Rev. Govunne RathanajothiMawelagama Rajamaha Viharaya20/09/1989
Rev. Thiaranagama Rathanasara 29/09/1989
Rev. Thambugala Anandasiri  13/10/1989 
Rev. Dikpitiye Angirasa Sri Keththarama Temple 05/10/1989 
Rev. Kalutara Dharmarathana 12/10/1989
Rev. WimalakeerthiDangolla Temple – Horambawa20/10/1989 
Rev. Nikapitiye SiddharthaDeliwala Temple 30/10/1989
Rev. D. Gunawansa  Mangalagama Pirivena – Molagoda05/11/1989
Rev. Welipitiye PangnatissaViyaneliya Temple29/11/1989 
Rev. Bamunupotha SomarathanaMedpitiya Temple10/12/1989 
Rev. W. PangnanandaWeulukannala Temple11/12/1989
Rev. Ambewela ChandrajothiKulubululanda Viharaya12/12/1989 
Rev. Rekawa Pangnasiddhi               Ubhayaramaya Temple – Rekawa     16/12/1989

In 1987 and 1988 two Catholic priests were killed by JVP. 

Name of Priest                     Place of incident                                         Date                

Fr. Michael Paul Rodrigo         Subaseth Gedara, Kataragama                                 11/10/1987

Fr. P. Lionel Jayasinghe         Lanka Deva Sabhawa – Tissamaharamaya    25/03/1988

Vandalism and sabotage by JVP 

Destroyed

553      CTB buses                  15        CTB depots                 01        CTB workshop 

113      Government vehicles   29        Private vehicles

Vandalised

16        Trains              12        Rail tracks                    24       Railway stations

680      Post offices     18        Postal vehicles            12        Telecommunication centres 

01        CTO building   84        Key telephone lines

04        Paddy collecting centres and cultivation and milk collecting centres

73        Tea factories   38        Estate bungalows 

Many   Estate vehicles, Tea leaf collecting centres

Corporations vandalised 

(1)Timber Corporation depots             (2) Distilleries                           (3) Weaving centres, 

(4) Building Materials Corporation       (5) Plywood Corporation          (6) Cashew Corporation,

(7) Fertiliser Corporation                      (8) Mining buildings                 (9) Government schools.

Sabotaged

132      Electric transformers                13        Pylons                         69        Power lines 

02        Power stations                        25        Electric meters             09        Elec-sub stations

103      Agrarian service centres

Attacked

More than 40 Banks 

21        Government office

294      Offices of Government agents

Private property damaged

107      Homes of service personnel    76        Houses of Police officers         Home Guards

20        Houses of civilians                  33        Private buildings 

05        Sarvodaya Centres                             Homes of provincial council members, 

Social centres and Trade union offices           

Foreign construction projects and construction centres 

JVP ADMITTED KILLING IN THOUSANDS

JVP leader Somawansa admitted to the killing of at least 6,000 people 

Civil society was shocked to learn that Somawansa Amerasinghe has accepted that the Janatha Vimuke Peramuna (JVP) murdered 6000 people including hundreds of politicians and others, including President Kumaratunga’s husband Vijeya Kumaratunga! Amerasinghe is the only member still alive of the JVP politburo of that time. Civil society expects that the international community will demand legal action after the revelation of such a vast number of brutal murders.

He has been in self-imposed exile in the United Kingdom for the past few years. The evidence against him has been well documented and there is a warrant in Sri Lanka for his arrest. 

It is shameful that the Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga to brought Somawansa from London as a State guest to address the election rally last year and then allowed him to go back to UK, instead of having him arrested. Yet another outrageous act of President Chandrika!

According to Human rights organisations and the Sri Lankan media, the JVP has killed or contributed to the killing of more than 60,000 people in 1980s.

May 2, 2024 0 comments
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Srilanka and Norway

“The man who didn’t run away” – Eric Solheim

by Nadarajah Sethurupan April 30, 2024
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Norway’s former minister of Climate and the Environment, Erik Solheim says President Ranil Wickremesinghe has pulled off a political miracle in Sri Lanka, calling him ‘The man who didn’t run away’.

Solheim, appointed President Wickremesinghe’s International Climate Adviser in October 2022, took to ‘X’ to heap praise on the Sri Lankan President’s efforts to revive Sri Lanka from its economic crisis. 

“18 months ago the nation was in its deepest economic crisis ever. There were constant power cuts and long queues to buy fuel. Inflation was skyrocketing and most businesses were on the verge of collapse. The people toppled the then President.

“Stability is now restored in the land. Inflation is low. Power cuts and lining up for fuel are things of the past. Life is for sure still tough for many Sri Lankans. There is a lot of economic pain. But Sri Lanka can start looking ahead. To all the opportunities for a better future,” he said in a statement on ‘X’. 

Erik Solheim made the remarks after attending dinner with President Wickremesinghe and his wife Maithree Wickremesinghe in Colombo.

April 30, 2024 0 comments
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Politics

Turkish FM holds talks with Norwegian FM

by Nadarajah Sethurupan April 29, 2024
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Sunday met with his counterparts from Norway, Jordan and Yemen as well as the EU foreign policy chief in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh.

“We agreed on the urgency to address regional issues and in particular to end the suffering in Gaza,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on X after the meeting, adding that they had a good conversation on EU-Türkiye relations, emphasizing the need for “cooperation” and continuation of the “engagement.”

During his meeting with Norway’s Espen Barth Eide, Jordan’s Ayman Safadi and Yemen’s Shai Muhsin Zindani, Hakan Fidan drew attention to the increasing global reactions to Israel’s ongoing attacks in Gaza.

Fidan also stressed the need to increase pressure on Israel to stop attacks on the besieged Palestinian enclave.

The foreign ministers also discussed steps that could be taken for the recognition of the state of Palestine by more countries.

Fidan and his Norwegian counterpart also discussed cooperation within the framework of NATO.

April 29, 2024 0 comments
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Diplomatic relations

Bulgarian Mosaics to Be Presented in Norway

by Nadarajah Sethurupan April 27, 2024
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

An innovative mobile exhibition titled “Bulgaria and the Mosaics” will be unveiled in Stavanger, Norway on May 3 at 6 p.m. local time, the Bulgarian Embassy in Oslo says on its Facebook page. Pianist Kiril Kutin, who founded the Stavanger International Piano Festival, and 10-year-old violinist Isola Lin will perform on the opening evening.

The event is organized by the Bulgarian Embassy in collaboration with the board of the St Peter’s Church in Stavanger.

Photo: Facebook/Bulgarian Embassy in Norway

The exhibition aims to present the rich and diverse mosaic heritage in Bulgaria through selected details of ancient, medieval and modern mosaics. It also highlights Bulgaria’s contribution to the preservation and research of the mosaic heritage in Southeastern Europe.

“Bulgaria and the Mosaics” consists of 26 printed panels, each equipped with a QR code that leads to a website presenting the digital part of the exhibition. The website gives information about the presented objects, their location on the map, the institutions and organizations thanks to which they are included in the exhibition, and short texts about the history, problems and practices of preserving mosaic art in Bulgaria.

The exhibition was developed by the Balkan Heritage Foundation in 2023 in cooperation with Bulgarian museums, non-profit organizations and experts in the field of art studies and archaeology.

April 27, 2024 0 comments
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Russia and Norway

No NATO presence in Ukraine — Stoltenberg

by Nadarajah Sethurupan April 22, 2024
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

NATO doesn’t plan to send combat units to Ukraine although some of NATO allies have military advisers there, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said.

“There are no plans for any NATO combat presence in Ukraine, but of course several NATO allies have men and women in uniform at their embassies giving advice,” he said in an interview with MSNBC.

“I think we need to distinguish between people in uniform that may be present or are present and combat presence and the presence of combat forces. And we have no plans of presence of that kind. What we do in Ukraine is that we help them to defend themselves.” He said, adding that NATO’s support “is not charity, it is an investment in our own security.”

The United States and NATO’s military aid to Ukraine is “too late” but the delays has had its “consequences,” Stoltenberg also said.

“It’s not too late but of course the delay has had real consequences <…> the Russians have much more ammunition,” he said in an interview with MSNBC, commenting on the new aid package for Ukraine approved by the US House of Representatives. “We have seen that fewer Russian missiles and drones have been shot down simply because they lack air defense systems and also ammunition to air defense systems. But it’s not too late because the Ukrainians demonstrated an enormous skill in defending their country.”.

April 22, 2024 0 comments
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Media Freedom

Norway ‘regrets’ outcome as UNSC blocks Palestine’s full UN membership resolution

by Nadarajah Sethurupan April 19, 2024
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Norway said on Thursday that it “regrets” that the UN Security Council disagreement on Palestine’s full membership to the UN.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide wrote on X that his country would have voted in favor of Palestine, following the vote on a resolution on full UN membership of Palestine, which saw the US veto.

“Norway regrets that the Security Council did not agree on admitting Palestine as a full member of the UN,” Eide wrote.

“We would have voted in favour. Norway is a staunch supporter of Palestine’s right to statehood.”

Eide added that the two-state solution is “the only way to durable peace” between Israel and Palestine.

12 countries, Slovenia, Sierra Leone, Russia, South Korea, Mozambique, Malta, Japan, Guyana, France, Ecuador, China and Algeria voted in favor of the resolution but 2 countries, the UK and Switzerland abstained on the resolution.

Robert Wood, the US deputy envoy to the UN, said following the veto that his country believes there is no other path to Palestinian statehood than through negotiations.

“We also have long been clear that premature actions here in New York, even with the best intentions, will not achieve statehood for the Palestinian people,” Wood said.

Palestine is a non-member state in the UN but has an observer status. An application for full membership necessitates an approval from the UNSC and a two-thirds of vote of all member states in the General Assembly.

The resolution that would open the way for a full membership application for Palestine came as the death toll in Gaza Strip that saw a relentless bombing campaign from Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) since Oct. 7 reaches 34,000.

April 19, 2024 0 comments
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Asia and Norway

Oslo opens route to China – via Kazakhstan

by Nadarajah Sethurupan April 17, 2024
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

A new direct salmon air route between Norway and China has just been launched from Oslo.

The interesting aspect is that the plane travels via the former Soviet republic of  Kazakhstan, close to Russia, an area of the world avoided by western fish air carriers since the start of the Ukraine war.

The first consignment of 210 tonnes was flown to the Chinese market recently by a Hongyuan Group cargo plane.

Avinor, which runs Oslo Airport, said the new freight route will connect the Norwegian capital directly to Chengdu Tianfu International Airport with a stopover in Astana, Kazakhstan.

“This freight route is an important measure to meet the growing demand for efficient transport of goods, especially seafood, between Norway and China,” it adds.

Avinor shipping manager Eva Beate Lande said: “This marks an important milestone, and represents a significant opportunity for the seafood industry in Norway.”

The flight has been set up by the Hongyuan Group, while the plane itself is operated by Beijing Capital Airlines.

The route will operate three times weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, operated by an Airbus A330-300, with ambitions to increase the frequency in the short term if they fill the aircraft.

Eva Lande added: “With a capacity to send 210 tonnes of fresh fish directly to the Chinese market every week, we shorten the transport time significantly.

“We have seen a sharp increase in seafood exports to China since 2019, and now that the market is opening up after the restrictions of the pandemic, it is crucial to have direct routes like this to support further growth.”

The aircraft brings goods from China on the return journey.

April 17, 2024 0 comments
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101207 The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2024 to Japan’s Hiroshima bomb survivor group Nihon Hidankyo.

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