Views and News from Norway

13/09/2025

UPDATED: No other leader of Norway’s Conservative Party has served as prime minister longer than Erna Solberg, and she’s led the party itself for 21 years. Calls kept rising this week for her resignation, though, after the Conservatives lost badly in Monday’s Parliamentary election, and on Friday she announced she’ll step down as party leader but serve her new four-year term in Parliament.

UPDATED: No other leader of Norway’s Conservative Party has served as prime minister longer than Erna Solberg, and she’s led the party itself for 21 years. Calls kept rising this week for her resignation, though, after the Conservatives lost badly in Monday’s Parliamentary election, and on Fri...

13/09/2025

Popular Norwegian actress Agnes Kittelsen is back in her native Kristiansand this autumn, and getting rave reviews as the main character in one of Henrik Ibsen’s most controversial dramas, Gengangere (Ghosts). Kittelsen says the play is just as relevant today as when it raised a scandal in 1881.

Popular Norwegian actress Agnes Kittelsen is back in her native Kristiansand this autumn, and getting rave reviews as the main character in one of Henrik Ibsen’s most controversial dramas, Gengangere (Ghosts). Kittelsen says the play is just as relevant today as when it raised a scandal in 1881. ....

13/09/2025

The world’s largest warship sailed up the Oslofjord for the second time in two years on Friday, just after taking part in NATO exercises off Northern Norway. The huge aircraft carrier’s visit also comes just days after Russian drones caused trouble in Poland and violated NATO airspace.

The world’s largest warship sailed up the Oslofjord for the second time in two years on Friday, just after taking part in NATO exercises off Northern Norway. The huge aircraft carrier’s visit also comes just days after Russian drones caused trouble in Poland and violated NATO airspace. The arriv...

07/09/2025

Norwegian election campaigns are known for being relatively short, civilized and even charming, with top politicians actively out meeting the public and even going door-to-door in an effort to win votes. This year’s Parliamentary election, however, has sparked concern over the record amounts of financial support given to conservative political parties by wealthy businesses and their owners, some of it anonymously.

Norwegian election campaigns are known for being relatively short, civilized and even charming, with top politicians actively out meeting the public and even going door-to-door in an effort to win votes. This year’s Parliamentary election, however, has sparked concern over the record amounts of fi...

07/09/2025

NEWS ANALYSIS: Norwegian Defense Minister Tore O Sandvik ceremoniously signed Norway’s biggest and perhaps best-received defense deal ever on Thursday, formally agreeing to buy five new British frigates for GBP 10 billion. The deal has been hailed as everything from “solid” to “comforting,” and shows how much times have changed since Norway lost a frigate just seven years ago.

NEWS ANALYSIS: Norwegian Defense Minister Tore O Sandvik ceremoniously signed Norway’s biggest and perhaps best-received defense deal ever on Thursday, formally agreeing to buy five new British frigates for GBP 10 billion. The deal has been hailed as everything from “solid” to “comforting,.....

07/09/2025

More than a quarter of Norway’s 4,053,932 eligible voters have already cast their ballots ahead of Monday’s Parliamentary election, while those undecided are still visiting various party campaign booths and engaging in lively political debate. Public opinion polls are now so close that one election expert is calling it a real thriller.

More than a quarter of Norway’s 4,053,932 eligible voters have already cast their ballots ahead of Monday’s Parliamentary election, while those undecided are still visiting various party campaign booths and engaging in lively political debate. Public opinion polls are now so close that one elect...

26/08/2025

It started with a few flower bouquets on Sunday, when news broke that a juvenile care worker had been brutally murdered on the job by a young man. By Tuesday morning the flower tributes had expanded, as police continue their investigation into what they’ve classified as a terrorist attack. The dea...

16/08/2025

Oslo’s historic Frognerseteren Restaurant and its busy café were back in business this week, scrubbed and cleared by local health authorities. They’d tied the restaurant to an ongoing outbreak of the hepatitis-A virus, and now Oslo’s blood bank is also taking steps to prevent blood donors from spreading the virus further.

Oslo’s historic Frognerseteren Restaurant and its busy café were back in business this week, scrubbed and cleared by local health authorities. They’d tied the restaurant to an ongoing outbreak of the hepatitis-A virus, and now Oslo’s blood bank is also taking steps to prevent blood donors fro...

04/08/2025

Readers and fans from all walks of life mourn the passing of Ingvar Ambjørnsen, a prolific Norwegian author who started out as an advocate of outsiders and became, much to his own surprise, a part of Norway’s cultural heritage.

Readers and fans from all walks of life mourn the passing of Ingvar Ambjørnsen, a prolific Norwegian author who started out as an advocate of outsiders and became, much to his own surprise, a part of Norway’s cultural heritage. Ambjørnsen also generated millions upon millions for Oslo-based publ...

19/07/2025

Thanks, good collegues at Barents Observer.

A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) warning came soon after pilots detected disturbances in satellite navigation systems in the airspace on July 8.

01/07/2025

A Norwegian appeals court concluded on Monday that the same young man r***d and murdered two little girls found dead at the Baneheia recreational area in Kristiansand in May 2000. The now-44-year-old defendant, Jan Helge Andersen, may also end up spending much of the rest of his life in jail.

A Norwegian appeals court concluded on Monday that the same young man r***d and murdered two little girls found dead at the Baneheia recreational area in Kristiansand in May 2000. The now-44-year-old defendant, Jan Helge Andersen, may also end up spending much of the rest of his life in jail. The ve...

25/06/2025

With some firm handshakes, flattery and lots of money, Norway and its NATO allies survived their latest direct encounter with the unpredictable US President Donald Trump on Wednesday. They all formally agreed to another massive boost in defense spending at their latest NATO summit, and avoided issues on which they disagree.

With some firm handshakes, flattery and lots of money, Norway and its NATO allies survived their latest direct encounter with the unpredictable US President Donald Trump on Wednesday. They all formally agreed to another massive boost in defense spending at their latest NATO summit, and avoided issue...