Views and News from Norway

03/01/2026

Norway’s foreign minister joined a long list of international experts and national leaders on Saturday in criticizing the US military assault on Venezuela. Norway called the assault “a dramatic escalation” of tensions in the area, just weeks after a Venezuelan opposition leader won the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo.

12/12/2025

Norway’s state auditor general released a highly critical report on Thursday in which it claimed that Norway’s domestic intelligence agency PST and the country’s overall preparedness measures are weak and do not meet current threat levels. PST’s leader and her boss, Norway’s justice minister, quickly went on the defensive, stirring up more criticism in Parliament. https://www.newsinenglish.no/2025/12/11/pst-and-preparedness-under-fire/

08/12/2025

Norway and Great Britain have been cooperating and mounting joint military exercises for years, but now they’re bringing their defense and especially naval forces even closer together. Both sides called a new defense agreement that was signed in London on Thursday “historic,” with tight integration of naval operations, drone projects and overall preparedness in troubled times.

https://www.newsinenglish.no/2025/12/04/uk-and-norway-join-forces/

08/12/2025

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide has been a busy man this week, traveling to meetings in Brussels, Vienna, Doha and then on to London. The Brussels visit was tied to a NATO ministerial meeting, but he also nudged Norway closer to the European Union (EU).
https://www.newsinenglish.no/2025/12/07/norway-tightens-ties-to-eu/

08/12/2025

A lack of snow so far this winter hasn’t helped ward off complaints around Oslo’s annual Christmas market in the heart of downtown. It’s recently been criticized and ridiculed in Norway’s largest newspaper, prompting its commercial operator to mount a quick defense.
https://www.newsinenglish.no/2025/12/05/oslos-christmas-market-draws-flak/

17/11/2025

Norway’s national men’s football team could enjoy a festive homecoming after they landed back in Oslo Monday afternoon. They’d qualified as expected for next year’s World Cup after beating Italy in Milan Sunday night, and that also qualified them for what the Norwegians call a folkefest.

Norway’s national men’s football team could enjoy a festive homecoming after they landed back in Oslo Monday afternoon. They’d qualified as expected for next year’s World Cup after beating Italy in Milan Sunday night, and that also qualified them for what the Norwegians call a folkefest. It....

15/10/2025

Norway’s Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg learned a lot about defense during his 10 years at NATO. That can come in handy over the next few months after he presented his first state budget proposal in nearly three decades Wednesday morning, and immediately came under fire over it from all directions.

Norway’s Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg learned a lot about defense during his 10 years at NATO. That can come in handy over the next few months after he presented his first state budget proposal in nearly three decades Wednesday morning, and immediately came under fire over it from all directi...

10/10/2025

NEWS COMMENTARY: The Norwegian Nobel Committee surprised just about everyone, including its former leader, on Friday by awarding this year’s Nobel Peace Prize to a woman who hadn’t turned up on the lists of candidates most likely to win. Maria Corina Machado of Venezuela, however, is “a brave and committed champion of peace,” according to the committee, “who keeps the flame of democracy burning amid a growing darkness.”

NEWS COMMENTARY: The Norwegian Nobel Committee surprised just about everyone, including its former leader, on Friday by awarding this year’s Nobel Peace Prize to a woman who hadn’t turned up on the lists of candidates most likely to win. Maria Corina Machado of Venezuela, however, is “a brave ...

05/10/2025

It’s only been out for a week, but strong demand for Jens Stoltenberg’s new book about his 10 years leading NATO has already prompted the printing of a second edition. More are likely, given all the book’s revelations, rave reviews and Stoltenberg’s own popularity both at home in Norway and abroad.

It’s only been out for a week, but strong demand for Jens Stoltenberg’s new book about his 10 years leading NATO has already prompted the printing of a second edition. More are likely, given all the book’s revelations, rave reviews and Stoltenberg’s own popularity both at home in Norway and ...

02/10/2025

More than 700,000 Norwegians have already signed up for a new government program aimed at warding off electricity rate shocks this fall and winter, and beyond. Called Norgespris (literally, Norway’s price), it’s all part of rate subsidy reform that can become expensive for the state.

More than 700,000 Norwegians have already signed up for a new government program aimed at warding off electricity rate shocks this fall and winter, and beyond. Called Norgespris (literally, Norway’s price), it’s all part of rate subsidy reform that can become expensive for the state. The governm...

25/09/2025

Norway’s royal family mostly clammed up last week when a highly controversial Netflix documentary involving them was released internationally. Now Crown Prince Haakon has opened up a bit, and tried to smile through the storm.

Norway’s royal family mostly clammed up last week when a highly controversial Netflix documentary involving them was released internationally. Now Crown Prince Haakon has opened up a bit, and tried to smile through the storm. The crown prince took a few minutes this week to talk to reporters while...

21/09/2025

NEWS ANALYSIS: A verbal assault on Norway’s King Harald V, broadcast internationally by his new American son-in-law Durek Verrett, has set off public uproar among Norwegians. Protests have come from both monarchists and those favouring a republic, and set off calls for the king to strip Verrett’s wife, Princess Martha Louise, of her royal title.

NEWS ANALYSIS: A verbal assault on Norway’s King Harald V, broadcast internationally by his new American son-in-law Durek Verrett, has set off public uproar among Norwegians. Protests have come from both monarchists and those favouring a republic, and set off calls for the king to strip Verrett’...