Friday, September 11, 2026
Economics

Swedish national operator to bid for Norwegian contracts

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

NORWAY: Swedish national passenger operator SJ has established local subsidiary SJ Norge to bid for the operating contracts which are being tendered under Norway’s railway reform programme.

The Ministry of Transport & Communications expects to award two contracts this year covering the operation from December 2018 of the Sørlandet, Jær and Arendal lines and the Trondheim – Bodø, Bodø – Rognan, Lundamo/Melhus – Stjørdal/Steinkjer, Dombås – Åndalsnes, Hamar – Røros, Røros – Trondheim, Trondheim – Storlien and Oslo – Trondheim services.

Launching the subsidiary on March 20, SJ CEO Crister Fritzson said Sweden had gone through the same market opening process almost 30 years ago. Since then there has been a double of ridership, and SJ built up ‘extensive experience of how to increase both rail travel and customer satisfaction in a profitable and sustainable way’, he said.

SJ said Norway has not seen the same growth, but the company sees ‘great potential’ associated with the investments being made in rail infrastructure.

Fritzson said it was ‘quite natural that we want to include the Norwegian rail market in our core business when the opportunity is given’, pointing out that SJ had operated in Norway since before the end of the personal union of the two kingdoms in 1905. ‘It is a natural geographic extension and we already have all the necessary permits’, he said

Berit Kjøll, Executive Vice-President of Huawei Norway, has been appointed Chairman of SJ Norge and will recruit a management team. She has previously been CEO of airport train operator Flytoget and a board member of Avinor, SAS, DNB, Hurtigruten and the Norwegian Tourist Association.

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Asylum

Norway should extradite 5 soldiers: Turkey’s Deputy PM

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Norway should extradite five Turkish military officers suspected of links to the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group blamed for last year’s defeated coup in Turkey, said Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus Thursday.

Speaking to reporters in Turkey’s southeastern province of Adiyaman, Kurtulmus said: “We are issuing a friendly warning to the Norwegian government: Turkey requests the extradition of these people.”

State-owned Norwegian news broadcaster NRK reported Wednesday that four military officers and a military attaché working at NATO bases had requested asylum after the July 2016 coup attempt in Turkey, which Ankara says was orchestrated by FETO.

Their lawyer, Kjell M. Brygfjeld, confirmed that the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration accepted his clients’ requests and granted them residence and work permits.

FETO, led by U.S.-based Fetullah Gulen, has been accused of orchestrating the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 249 people martyred and around 2,200 wounded.

Turkey’s government accuses the FETO terror network of staging the coup attempt as well as being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.

Since the foiled coup, operations have been ongoing in the military, police, and judiciary, as well as in other state institutions across the country, to arrest suspects with alleged links to FETO.

Tens of thousands of police officers, military service personnel, and other public employees have been arrested.

Last month, an Interior Ministry spokesman said more than 130 Turkish citizens — including former soldiers, diplomats, and their family members — had sought asylum in Germany since the failed putsch.

(aa)

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Farming

Busy period for Norwegian Coast Guard

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

It has been a busy winter period for the Norwegian Coast Guard with one of its patrol vessels tasked to two separate incidents involving a disabled ex-buoy tender and a drifting barge carrier.

The Norwegian Coast Guard vessel KV Bergen is a VS794CG design, described as a patrol vessel but with multipurpose capabilities including towing and salvage and in effect an ‘emergency towing vessel’ in its own right, one of a number protecting Norway’s hostile and exposed yet environmentally vulnerable coastline.

Its towing capability was put to the test recently when the former Norwegian buoy tender Vikingfjord called for assistance after suffering machinery failure in bad weather conditions while off Sotra, west of Bergen on the country’s south west coast. KV Bergen was just a few hours steaming away and responded to Vikingfjord’s request for help.

Once on scene KV Bergen reported bad weather conditions including 25’ high seas and wind gusting up to 60 knots and with assistance from another ‘VS’ designed vessel, the Ocean Response a towing connection was established with the Vikingfjord. Problems however with the connection led to the tow line parting and a second connection had to be made after which slow progress was made towards shelter. Once near shore the tow was reported as being handed over to the tug Sjøbas which towed the disabled vessel towards Korsfjorden.

Just two weeks previous to the above incident, KV Bergen along with the patrol vessels KV Sortland and KV Tor were called into action when the 40,000dwt barge carrier Tide Carrier dragged its anchor and reportedly came within 100m of running aground off Jæren, Norway.

It was reported that the vessel lost power and attempted to anchor to arrest a shoreward drift. After regaining power and getting under way Tide Carrier once again lost power and re-anchored deploying two anchors. An injured crewmember along with four non-essential crew were airlifted off the vessel and two pilots and two towage company employees put on board to assist with the operation.

Dramatic aerial footage of the operation later showed the Buksér og Berging tug BB Server establishing a towing connection with the Tide Carrier and along with another tug towed the vessel to a safe anchorage off Feistein Fyr.

Looking at the two main ‘players’ in these incidents, KV Bergen is managed by Fosnavåg-based Remøy Management on behalf of the Norwegian Coast Guard. Built by Myklebust Verft AS in 2010 the vessel has a length of 93m and gross tonnage of 4,025gt. BB Server is a multifunctional ship-assist and escort ASD tug built by Moen Slip in 2008. At 37m LOA, two ABC main engines develop 2,100kW in total and deliver a bollard pull of 71t via Schottel CP azimuth thrusters.

(maritimejournal)

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Environment

Scientists in Norway Developing Eco-Friendly Solar Cells with Enhanced Efficiency

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Energy production is in a major state of transition. Technology companies such as Apple, Google, Tesla and Amazon are all investing in solar power.

This is taking place at the same time as a preliminary budget has been sent to Congress that would defund the Environmental Protection Agency.

The large tech companies are aware of the benefits to renewable energy. They have a large demand for power to cool their servers. Apple has reported to have had an excess amount of energy at times for utilizing renewable energy.

The debate on cost for solar energy is over. Research how to install your own panels with instructional online tutorials. Take a look at some of the costs to solar cells on eBay. They are reasonably priced, and installation looks close to doing a roofing project connected with some electrical wiring. (When working with electrical wiring it is important to understand the safety precautions on the job site.)

Researchers and scientists have been developing solar cells for decades. They continue to find new ways to create and maintain energy with safer elements.

Each form of energy production has its pros and cons. One of the drawbacks to solar power energy production is the elements being used to collect and transfer the energy.

Bengt Svensson, a professor within the Department of Physics at the University of Oslo in Norway, has been working on clean energy production with solar cells.

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Racism in Norway

New report: Neo-Nazis in the North

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

A new report from HSI looks at the violent past and present of the Nordic neo-Nazi organization calling itself the Nordic Resistance Movement.

The self-declared Nordic Resistance Movement (NRM) is currently the largest and most active neo-Nazi organization in Sweden, where it originated, as well as in Norway and in Finland. In total, the organization may have as many as 300 activists across the Nordic countries, as well as a broader network of sympathizers.

The Nordic Resistance Movement fights – in the words of its former leader Klas Lund – for “a Nordic national socialist republic including the Nordic countries of Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Iceland and optionally the Baltic states”. It has also attempted to establish itself in Denmark, and its website includes a section in the Icelandic language. More worrisome than its utopian vision of a National Socialist Nordic region, however, are the organization’s links to violence.

While the organization claims to resort to violence only in self-defence, both its national socialist ideology, which is violent in itself, and the blood-stained history of the organization say otherwise.

HSI has been following the development of the NRM for several years, and also assisted Esa Henrik Holappa – a co-founder and former leader of the Finnish branch – in leaving the organization and in breaking with his past. In this report, we present the history of the group and an overview of its current activities. HSI also worked together with the Finnish broadcaster YLE in connection with the defection, and the report includes a previously published article written by YLE journalist Marko Hietikko, whose work on Holappa’s defection was recently given a prestigious Finnish award.

(hate-speech)

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Norwegian American

Native Americans to meet Norway’s wealth fund watchdog over pipeline

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Standing Rock Sioux tribe representatives will meet the ethics watchdog for Norway’s $915 billion sovereign wealth fund on Monday over a U.S. oil pipeline, a watchdog official said on Monday.

On Sunday, Norway’s largest bank DNB sold its share of loans funding the Dakota Access oil pipeline, ending its involvement in a project that has faced strong opposition from Native Americans and environmental groups.

The pipeline will move crude oil from the U.S. Northern Plains to the Midwest and then on to the Gulf of Mexico. Norway’s soverign wealth fund holds $248 million in bonds of Energy Transfer Partners LP, which is leading the pipeline project.

The fund has an ethical profile and is not allowed to invest in companies that breach certain guidelines regarding the environment, human rights and corruption, among other criteria.

“We will be meeting them today. They have asked for a meeting and said they would like to meet us,” Eli Ane Lund, head of the secretariat of the fund’s Council on Ethics, told Reuters, declining to give further details.

A meeting with the watchdog does not mean the fund is considering excluding a company. Representatives from non-governmental organisations often meet with Council on Ethics officials.

The fund invests in close to 9,000 companies worldwide.

Some 65 companies are excluded from the fund on ethical grounds, based on the recommendation of the council. Another 69 firms are excluded directly by the fund based on their dependence on thermal coal.

(Reuters, dnaindia)

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Norwegian American

Norway hosts temperance association dinner theater fundraiser

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

NORWAY – Rob Borschsenius, a board member of the Norsk Museum, was trying to think of ideas for a fun way to raise money for the museum when he came across the Norway Temperance Association’s meeting minutes on display.

Borschsenius read more than 50 years of the meeting minutes and created original music and a script based off of what he read.

His play will be featured at a dinner theater fundraiser on Wednesday, April 12. The audience will be whisked back in time to attend a circa-1910 meeting of the Norway Temperance Association.

The event will be held at the Norway Community Building, 3676 E. 2603rd Road. Doors will open at 6 p.m., a broasted chicken and pasta dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. and the play will begin at 7:15 p.m. Unlike a traditional temperance meeting, a cash bar with beer and wine will be open through the evening. Tickets cost $35 and must be purchased in advance by calling 815-712-3170. Only a limited number of tickets are still available.

“The meeting minutes were interesting reading, and they were all hand-written,” Borschsenius said. “Everything in the play really happened and is based on true events. The association had their own choir and orchestra, and we will have both at our meeting. I would call it ‘historical fiction.’ People in the audience will be involved with the play, there will be a guest speaker and the Prairie Singers will be volunteer performers.”

The dinner theater is a fundraiser for the Norsk Museum, which houses artifacts from Norwegian history and memorabilia from the area’s first settlers, including early farm tools, spinning wheels, rosemaling, bunads (traditional Norwegian dresses) and a Viking display. The museum is closed for the season but is open for weekend tours June through September.

The museum’s building, the Hauge Lutheran Church of Norway, was constructed around 1846 and was placed on the National Register of Historic Buildings last spring. The museum’s parent organization, The Norwegian Center Inc., has submitted an application to Landmarks Illinois for the Norway Temperance Association’s hall to be considered as one of the 10 Most Endangered Historic Buildings in Illinois for 2017.

The Norway Temperance Association was organized in the late 1870s by the Norway Methodist women. Under the direction of the Rev. C. W. Hanson of the Norway Methodist Church, a temperance hall was constructed and was dedicated in October 1909.

The temperance hall was not only the location of the association’s meetings – graduations, basketball games, square dancing, dinners and fundraisers also were held there until 1956, when the association was dissolved and the building was sold. The money from the sale was divided evenly to three churches in the community: Fox River Lutheran, Norway Methodist and the Latter Day Saints.

“We are hoping that the hall’s owner will donate the building to us,” said David Johnson, Norsk Museum board president. “Last year, we had a historic architect appraise the building. We would need a quarter of a million dollars to bring the hall back to its 1910 status.”

The money raised at the upcoming dinner theater would be used to restore the museum’s original plaster walls and preserve the museum’s exhibits and artifacts. Last fall, John Maack of Chicago donated to the museum a Skagerrak Viking ship he built using Viking plans. The museum plans to build a storage unit to house the ship, which will be placed on a trailer and will be featured in parades, including the Norwegian Constitution Day Parade in Park Ridge.

“We would love to make the temperance meeting an annual event and host it at the temperance hall,” Johnson said. “We hope it will tell the story of our community’s heritage and that everyone will have fun.”

(vfpnews)

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Russia and Norway

Russia Warns Norway Over Missile

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Russia has warned Norway over consequences of joining NATO ballistic missile defense (BMD) plans. According to Russian ambassador to Oslo, Moscow will retaliate. Norway’s possible accession to NATO’s missile shield «will be a new factor that will be considered in our strategic planning as the emergence of an additional problem in the Arctic region», Teimuraz Ramishvili told the Norwegian state media network NRK.

In 2017, Norway may become a part of BMD. The Norwegian government has appointed an expert group to consider a possible Norwegian contribution to the missile shield. A detailed report on the issue is currently being prepared by experts from the Norwegian Defense Research Establishment and the US Missile Defense Agency to be submitted the year.

Norway has no interceptors on its soil but there are other ways to contribute into the anti-missile plans. Denmark does not host missiles but it committed itself to the bloc’s BMD in 2014, working to equip its frigates with advanced radar systems capable of detecting and tracking ballistic missiles. The missile defense program continues to be implemented despite the fact that after the nuclear agreement with Iran in 2015, there is no rationale for it.

Oslo is a participant in the US-led Maritime Theater Missile Defense Forum. The Norwegian contribution to the missile defense system has not yet been decided on. Even without interceptors, Norway could contribute by integrating into the BMD system its Globus II/III radar in the Vardøya Island located near the Russian border just a few kilometers from the home base of strategic submarines and 5 Aegis-equipped Fridtjof Nansen-class frigates. The Vardøya radar can distinguish real warheads from dummies.

Another radar located in Svalbard (the Arctic) can also be used by US military for missile defense purposes. Senior US officials and politicians have visited the site during the last few years, including former Defense Secretary Ash Carter, former State Secretary John Kerry and Republican Senator John McCain. The radar is installed in violation of the 1925 treaty which states that Svalbard has a demilitarized status. The visitors invented different reasons, like viewing the effects of climate change (John Kerry) or highlighting the plight of polar bears (John McCain) to justify the need to inspect the site.

Installation of BMD sites might potentially undermine the efficiency of Russian strategic nuclear forces as a means of deterrence.

Norway is executing a drastic change in its military policy towards a far more aggressive posture. Even though the country is small, it has the sixth biggest military budget per capita, after the United States, Israel, Singapore and some ‘monarchies’ in the Persian Gulf. The country spends 7.3 billion dollars on the military, more than Sweden (5.7 billion), a country with twice the population. Its geographic position makes it a key element of NATO military planning. The nation’s leading political parties want an increased focus on ‘strategic assets’ like F-35, capable of striking deep into Russian territory, submarines and surveillance capabilities.

Norway hosts 330 US Marines in the central areas of the country, formally on a ‘rotating’ basis. The rotation does not change the fact that the forces are permanently present in Norway. They are deployed at the Vaernes military base, about 1,500 km (900 miles) from the Russian territory, but the training program involves traveling closer to the border. Norway and Russia share a small land border far in the north.

The Marines can be easily reinforced. The US forward storage areas have been upgraded to store cutting edge weapons and equipment for about 16,000 Marines. Building up stockpiles is a key part of US strategy to enhance its capabilities in Europe. There are plans to warehouse tanks, artillery and other fighting vehicles at other locations around the Old Continent.

The only purpose for the deployment is preparation for an attack against Russia. The Marines are first strike troops. The provocative move is taking place at the time the Russia-NATO relationship hit a new low as the bloc’s forces deploy in Eastern Europe and tensions run high in the Black Sea and elsewhere. According to Heather Conley, the director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Europe Program, Northern Europe is now being viewed as a «theatre of operations».

There are other plans to increase US military presence in Norway. According to a report of Washington-based Center for Strategic and international Studies (CSIS), «The former Royal Norwegian Navy base at Olavsvern is ideal for supporting submarine operations in the extreme North Atlantic and Arctic Seas». The think tank believes it may be possible for Norway to nationalize and reopen a portion of the facility to support the rotational presence of US, UK, French, and Norwegian submarines. Olavsvern was NATO’s closest naval base to Russia’s submarine bases along the coast of the Kola Peninsula west of Murmansk.

It was reported last year that a study group from the US Navy visited both Andøya and Evenes airports in northern Norway to see if any of the two airports could be suitable to serve as a base for American P-8 Poseidon patrol aircraft.

The deployment of NATO forces to Norway is clearly a provocative act directed at Moscow. Norway shares a 121 mile border with Russia, while the Russian Northern Fleet is based in the Murmansk region, approximately 100 miles from the border.

Norway has pledged not to host foreign forces on its territory. It had stashed stockpiles of weapons in preparation for a possible conflict, but until recently, foreign troops were allowed into the country only temporarily for training purposes. Oslo had adhered to this principle even at the height of the Cold War.

Shifting away from the «no foreign forces on national soil» policy is fraught with consequences. Turning the national territory into a spearhead for an offensive against Russia inevitably makes Norway a target for a retaliatory strike. Russia did not start it. Actually, very few NATO members take part in the BMD plans. The decision to join would be seen as an outright provocation staged by a neighboring state. By doing so, Norway will deteriorate the relations and greatly reduce its own security which can only be achieved through developing of partnership and strengthening of centuries of good neighborly relations.

(N.Sethu, zerohedge)

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Media Freedom

Norwegian man posts advertisement for Brazilian woman to contact him

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

A romantic Norwegian guy has gone out on a limb to get back in touch with a young woman he met in Bondi on Thursday.

The man was taken by the woman who met while crossing Old South Head Road in the popular beach side suburb of Sydney.

But he seemingly missed an opportunity to get the woman’s number in person so posted a hand written note on the traffic pole next to the road where they met.

‘Seeking Brazilian girl with ankle tattoo, met here on Thursday 23rd, message me,’ the man wrote.

He scrawled down his mobile number before signing off with ‘Norwegian guy’.
Just hours after the note was fixed to the pole – with fluro yellow tape so it couldn’t be missed someone had posted it online.

‘We all know that Brazilians are the best but what is this,’ the post on a Bondi group read.

The romantic gesture received reactions online from more than 500 people in less than five hours.

Comments ranged from supportive to comical.

‘The difference between whether this is romantic or stalking lies with how good looking the bloke is,’ Ron Berg said.

‘I hope she has watched Vikings for some background research,’ David Nolan added.
‘That must be a pretty cool ankle tattoo if he’s that desperate to see it again,’ Jase Sun said.

While others wished the man well.

‘That is fantastic.. hope he gets lots of Brazilians with ankle tattoos messaging him.’
Daily Mail Australia have contacted the mystery Norwegian man for comment.

(dailymail)

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Terrorist

London attack: ‘Islamist’ terrorist was investigated by MI5 over extremism

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Islamic State has claimed that the Westminster terrorist who brought bloodshed to the heart of London was a “soldier” of the terror group.

 

Norwegian Prime minister Erna Solberg tweeted: “Terrible to see an attack in the heart of the British democracy. My thoughts with the victims.”

A police officer who was among those killed in Wednesday’s terror attack outside the British Parliament building in London has been identified as 48-year-old Keith Palmer, who worked for the Metropolitan Diplomatic Protection Group. He was a father and a husband.

The attack left four other people dead, including the attacker, and more than 40 injured. The assailant, who has not been identified, appeared to run over bystanders with a vehicle, then stabbed Palmer before he was shot to death by another officer trying to enter the Parliament building.

Among those hurt were three French students aged 15 and 16, Le Telegramme reported. The publication said the teens were walking on Westminster Bridge when they were struck by a vehicle.

Rowley said three officers returning from a commendation ceremony also were struck by the vehicle and were in serious condition. A doctor at St. Thomas Hospital described the victims’ injuries as “catastrophic,” according to the Press Association.

A Reuters photographer captured the chilling scene, which showed injured and bloodied victims lying on the ground. In one photo, a body could be seen stuck under the wheel of a bus. Three of those who were killed were struck on the bridge.

Tobias Ellwood, a member of Parliament and British foreign minister for the Middle East and Africa, rushed to the aid of Palmer after he was stabbed. Ellwood, a former soldier, attempted CPR on the officer and tried to stop the bleeding by applying pressure to his wound. Ellwood stayed with Palmer until medical crews arrived.

Four people have died, including a policeman and the attacker.

Police say 29 other people were treated in hospital, seven of whom are in a critical condition.

The assailant drove a car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, killing two people, before crashing it outside parliament and trying to enter the complex, armed with a knife.

He stabbed an unarmed police officer who later died from the injuries, before armed police shot him. The police officer was identified as 48-year-old PC Keith Palmer, who had 15 years of service with the parliamentary and diplomatic protection service. He was a husband and father, police said.

Another victim was named as Aysha Frade, 43, who worked as a teacher in London. The mother-of-two had family in Betanzos, Galicia, in north-west Spain and her death was confirmed by the mayor of the town.

The prime minister, Theresa May, said the attacker was British-born and had been investigated “some years ago” by MI5 in relation to concerns about violent extremism. She said the man, whose identity she said would be revealed in due course, was “not part of the current intelligence picture”.

The attacker is believed to have acted alone but police are investigating possible associates. May said there was “no reason to believe” further attacks on the public were planned.

Police have searched six addresses in Birmingham, London and other parts of the country, and made eight arrests.
May told MPs in a statement to parliament on Thursday: “We are not afraid and our resolve will never waiver in the face of terrorism.” The prime minister, who was evacuated from parliament within minutes and driven to Downing Street, described Palmer as “every inch a hero”.

Twelve Britons were injured, including three police officers, two of whom were seriously injured, and four university students, as well as three French children, four South Koreans, two Romanians, two Greeks. a Chinese national, an Italian, an American, a Pole, an Irish national and a German woman resident in Australia.

A woman who was pulled from the Thames was a Romanian tourist celebrating her boyfriend’s birthday in London, the Romanian ambassador to the UK, Dan Mihalache, told Realitatea TV. She sustained serious head injuries and badly damaged lungs. Her boyfriend suffered a fractured foot.

The minister for counter-terrorism, Tobias Ellwood, a former soldier, raced to give first aid to the police officer who later died. Pictures showed him with blood on his face as he administered CPR.

The London mayor, Sadiq Khan, vowed “Londoners will never be cowed by terrorism” in a video statement.
World leaders condemned the attack and offered condolences. The US president, Donald Trump, spoke to May, promising the UK the full support of the US government in responding to the attack.

Leaders of Canada, France, Germany and Spain were among others who sent messages of shock and solidarity.
Extra police were on duty across London, and the Metropolitan police force set up a casualty bureau for those worried about friends or family.

A service took place in front of Scotland Yard on Thursday morning, in front of the flame that burns as a tribute to all dead Metropolitan police officers.

(C2 from Norway News)

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Politics

Turkey summons Norway’s envoy

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Norway’s ambassador to Turkey has been summoned to Turkey’s Foreign Ministry after Norway granted refugee status to five former Turkish military officers allegedly linked to the Fetullah Terror Organization (FETO), a ministry spokesperson said Wednesday, Media reports quoting Anadolu Agency.

“It is saddening and unacceptable to see an allied country supporting the efforts of individuals who were recalled from their state duty and who abused the political, social, and economic resources of their country of residence instead of returning to Turkey,” according to statement by foreign ministry spokesman Huseyin Muftuoglu.

The asylum-seekers include a former military attache and four military officers who worked at a NATO education center in Norway.

FETO, led by U.S.-based Fetullah Gulen, is accused of orchestrating a defeated coup last July that left 249 people martyred, and around 2,200 others wounded.

Turkey’s government accuses the FETO terror network of staging the coup attempt as well as being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.

Since the foiled coup, operations have been ongoing in the military, police and judiciary, as well as in other state institutions across the country, to arrest suspects with alleged links to FETO.

(N.Sethu)

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Russia and Norway

Russian Freighter Lists in Norwegian Sea

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Russian-flagged cargo ship Mekhanik Fomin developed a heavy portside list while underway in the Norwegian Sea west off Narvik after a reported cargo shift, Norwegian Coast Guard confirmed.

The ship, loaded with timber, was en route to Inverness, the UK when it got in trouble following a cargo shift on March 18th. Namely, some of the cargo is reported to have fallen overboard causing the ship to list.

Once informed of the incident, the Norwegian Coast Guard sent its ships KV Senja and Strulborg to the scene to assist the ship. As informed, the ship’s crew managed to regain control of the vessel and restore power, and the ship was escorted to Sortland where the necessary repairs would follow suit.

The 13 crew members remained on board and there were no reports of injuries.

Speaking to norwagian media, Coast Guard duty officer Jan-Hugo Lassesen, said that it was probably the inclement weather that caused the incident.

(world maritime news)

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Spy War

Russian hacker pleads guilty

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Mark Vartanyan, 29, was allegedly involved in distributing the Citadel malware, which at its peak, caused over $500m in losses.

A Russian man accused of involvement in developing and distributing the Citadel malware, which at its peak infected nearly 11 million computers and caused over $500m in losses, has pleaded guilty to charges related to computer fraud. Mark Vartanyan, 29, who went by the pseudonym “Kolypto”, was arrested in October 2014 in Norway and extradited to the US in December 2016.

According to US attorney John Horn, Citadel was designed to steal financial account credentials and PII (personally identifiable information) from victims. The malware was sold on an unspecified and popular “invite-only” Russian-language underground forum. The malware’s operators targeted “major financial and government institutions around the world”, according to the US Justice Department.

Vartanyan was allegedly involved in distributing the malware while residing in Ukraine, between August 2012 and January 2013. However, the malware’s source code was reportedly leaked, which helped antivirus firms to identify and block it, according to former FBI special agent Mark Ray, who now serves as the director of cyber investigations at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Atlanta.

Ray, who travelled to Norway to interview the Russian hacker in 2014 after his arrest, told AP: “What made Citadel so unique is that it was the first one that really incorporated this concept of a customer relationship development module, where the developers wanted feedback from the users on improvements and additions and new features.”

Vartanyan is not the only one charged for his alleged involvement in Citadel attacks. In September 2015, another Russian, Dimitry Belorossov, who went by the name Rainerfox, was arrested and sentenced to serve four years and six months after pleading guilty to charges related to Citadel’s distribution.

According to the Justice Department, Belorossov, 22, operated a 7,000-strong botnet leveraging the Citadel malware. His botnet contained data from infected computers, which included “online banking credentials for US-based financial institutions with federally insured deposits, credit card information, and other personally identifying information”.

Meanwhile, federal prosecutors have agreed to not seek a sentence of more than five years for Vartanyan after he reached a deal to cooperate with the prosecutors, ABC News reported. He is slated to be sentenced on 21 June.

Despite the two arrests, the Justice Department claims that its investigation into the creator of the Citadel malware is ongoing, indicating that more actors were likely involved in the cybercrime operation.

(ibtimes)

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Peace Talks

Nordic-Baltic states visit Tshkinvali occupation line

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Representatives of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania visited the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) yesterday between the occupied Tskhinvali region and the rest of Georgia.

The group met with a family living behind the barbed wire fences in the Shida Kartli region in the village of Khurvaleti.

Davit (Dato) Vanishvili’s family found itself divided from the rest of Khurvaleti village with the wires established by the Russian occupation forces back in 2015. They were also separated from their wheat field which was formerly their main source of income. However, after the erection of the barbed wire fence, they have been unable to reach their crop fields.

I was in Georgia when I went to bed; when I woke up I was in South Ossetia”, Vanishvili used to say from behind the body-height fence.

Read more about the situation along Georgia’s occupation line in Lali Tsertsvadze’s special report: “Georgia: Easter behind barbed wire”
The representatives of the Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8) went to the Gori Office of the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) and met with the mission representatives.

EUMM Georgia is an unarmed civilian monitoring mission tasked with ensuring peace and stability for people who live on both sides of the ABL in Georgia’s breakaway regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia).

NB8 is the informal format of regional cooperation between Baltic (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia) and Nordic (Sweden, Finland, Norway, Iceland and Denmark) states, and serves as an instrument for political dialogue and practical cooperation.

Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Norway are represented by their respective Parliamentary Speakers, while Finland and Iceland – by Vice Parliament Speakers, and Sweden – by its ambassador to Georgia.

Georgia is interested in the development of cooperation with the NB8 in various directions, including domestic affairs, defence and security. Throughout 2016, Georgia has expressed commitment on various levels for the involvement in and hosting of NB8 events.

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Asylum

Norway grants asylum to Turkish soldiers

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration has accepted asylum requests of four Turkish soldiers and one military attaché, who rejected orders to return to Turkey after the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) organized July 15 coup attempt.

The putschist soldiers and the military attaché, who were stationed as NATO soldiers in Europe, were received residence and work permits.

Lawyer Kjell M. Brygfjeld, who was representing the soldiers, confirmed the decision of the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration.

The four fugitive soldiers and the military attaché told Norwegian Verdens Gang daily that they denied all FETÖ accusations and feared to be arrested upon their return to Turkey.

Some political commentators said that if other European countries followed this move of Norway, which is also a NATO ally of Turkey, could worsen already strained diplomatic relations.

Previously, Germany and the Netherlands also reported hundreds of asylum requests of pro-coup Turkish soldiers and their families, who were working at NATO headquarters across Europe.

Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmuş said Tuesday that the decision is “unacceptable” and points to EU favoritism toward coup plotters. “The necessity for friendship between Turkey and the EU is the extradition of FETÖ members who have already taken shelter and those who are seeking to take shelter,” he said.

FETÖ, an organization led by U.S.-based former spiritual leader Fetullah Gülen, sought to topple the Turkish government and seize power on July 15, 2016. Loyal military troops, as well as police units and millions of Turkish citizens prevented the coup attempt. 246 people, mainly civilians, were killed by soldiers, while more than 2,000 people were injured.

After the deadly coup attempt, hundreds of military officers who joined the junta loyal to FETÖ were arrested, and the army dismissed thousands of others with links to the terrorist group who had infiltrators in the military, law enforcement, judiciary and bureaucracy.

(dailysabah.)

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Asia and Norway

“Georgia on way to European project” – Head of Norwegian Parliament

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Olemic Thommessen, the President of the Norwegian Parliament says he is impressed by what Georgia has achieved over the past few years in fighting corruption and implementing reforms.

Thommessen spoke at a joint press conference with heads and high-ranking officials from the parliaments of the Nordic and Plastic countries and Georgia in Tbilisi yesterday.

“Georgia is on its way to becoming a true member of the European project”, he said.

“Rome was not built in one day and neither is Europe. We all have different ideas of what the future of Europe should be all about”, he said and added that he highly appreciates the contribution of Georgia to global security.

“I also would like commend Georgia for its contribution to NATO in Afghanistan and I think this is a brilliant example of how to work on practical, concrete things that show the Georgian determination to be part of European institutions and NATO”.

He added that being a member of the European Union is not the only way to enjoy benefits of the European project.

“Coming from a non-EU country – Norway is not member of the EU – I can promise you that there are also other ways to involve oneself in the European project”, he said.

(N.Sethu)

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Africa and Norway

S. Sudan crisis “man-made” – Norway FM

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

South Sudan’s leaders have inflicted a massive humanitarian crisis on the population threatened by a famine and the war must end, the Norway’s foreign minister, said on Tuesday.

Borge Brende, in interview with Media, said South Sudan is “one of the world’s biggest humanitarian disasters,” affecting 5 million people.

Describing the crisis in South Sudan as “man-made”, Brende said solutions must include an agreement with armed opposition groups.

The Norwegian foreign affairs minister, among others, called for a worldwide ban to stop “the flow of weapons” into the war-torn East African country.

Since 2013, South Sudan has been embroiled in a civil war that has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced nearly two million.

About 100, 000 people are at risk of famine, three United Nations agencies said recently, and that up to 5 million people or more than 40% of the country’s populations are need urgent of food assistance.

Years of civil war, a refugee crisis and a collapsing economy have taken a toll on South Sudan since it gained independence in July 2011.

(N.Sethu, ST)

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NATO and Norway

NATO eyes new date

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

NATO is discussing moving next month’s meeting of foreign ministers in order for US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to attend, the alliance’s chief told Norwegian broadcaster NRK.

“One of the proposals on the table is to find a new date,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told NRK in Washington.

The US State Department said Tuesday that Tillerson would not attend the April 5-6 meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels.

But Tillerson does plan on going to Russia later in April, raising eyebrows about the White House’s priorities.

“Not good,” tweeted former US ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul. “Tillerson needs to go Brussels before Moscow.”

“It is important for NATO, it is important for the United States,” Stoltenberg said in NRK’s report on Wednesday when asked how critical it was that the US took part.

“The United States is very committed to NATO. That was very clear after my meeting today [Tuesday] with Defence Secretary, General James Mattis,” Stoltenberg added.

Stoltenberg on Monday began a three-day visit to the US, his first since President Donald Trump took office.

The NATO chief was due to meet Tillerson later Wednesday at a meeting of the international coalition fighting the so-called Islamic State.

(N.Sethurupan)

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Srilanka and Norway

Royal Norwegian Embassy support to resettled communities in Sri Lanka

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Knut Nyfløt, the First Secretary to the Royal Norwegian Embassy to Sri Lanka, Mohamed Muzain, the Programme Manager of the UNDP Sri Lanka Governance of Local Economic Programme and Vethanayahan, the District Secretary of Jaffna, recently visited the resettled areas of Palaly North of Tellipalai DS Division to hand over completed infrastructure facilities to the families in the area.

During this visit, the First Secretary declared open and handed over completed economic infrastructures especially a Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society Sales Outlet which will ease the resettled communities’ access to dry rations and grocery items at a nominal price.

In addition, the First Secretary declared open the Village Secretariat in Palaly North which will enhance access to all government services under one roof. During this visit, the dredging work of the Boat Access Way and the Landing Site for the fishermen at Palaly North also commenced which will support fishermen to restart their fishing activities. All these facilities will enable the 120 resettled families to regain their livelihoods.

Speaking at the event, Knut Nyfløt said, “Norway has a longstanding development co-operation with Sri Lanka. A major part of this support has been extended through UNDP 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 and therefore, the Norwegian Government remains committed to support livelihood activities whilst promoting the resettlement process. So far we have supported between 1100 and 1400 households in the newly released areas in Tellipalai, Vallalai and here in Palaly as well as in Sampur, Trincomalee”.

Also speaking at the event, the Mohamed Muzain said, “UNDP would like to see that the returned families are making best use sustaining the livelihood assistance provided through the Government of Norway. As a key development partner working for five decades in Sri Lanka and beyond, UNDP remains committed to assist the people of Sri Lanka to achieve sustainable human development.”

UNDP Sri Lanka works with resettled communities in Jaffna with funding assistance from the Royal Norwegian Embassy to uplift their livelihoods and revive the local economy in the area. The project also seeks to enhance access to government services whilst strengthening community organizations and networks.

(N.Sethu)

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Srilanka and Norway

Sri Lanka signs four agreements with Norway to improve fisheries sector

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

The Sri Lankan government has signed four agreements with the Norwegian government to improve fisheries sector, Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Mahinda Amaraweera said.

The agreements were signed by the Sri Lanka Fisheries Ministry and a delegation from the Norwegian government in the presence of Minister Amaraweera.

Addressing the gathering Minister Amaraweera said under the new agreements the fisheries sector will be developed in three phases.

The Minister noted that the Norwegian government has a great deal of technology and knowhow in the fisheries industry and obtaining their support will surely uplift the country’s fisheries sector.

Norway support a technical cooperation between Norwegian Institute of Marine Research and Sri Lankan National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA), with the aim of achieving sustainable management of fisheries resources in Sri Lanka.

The Minister also highlighted that a national fishery policy will be formulated for the fisheries industry with the cooperation of the Norwegian government.

According to the Minister the Ministry of Fisheries has become a profitable venture.

(N.Sethurupan)

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Media Freedom

Travel cancelations from Norway to Iceland

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

A Norwegian travel agency has received around 1500 cancelations of trips between Norway and Iceland scheduled next summer according to a RUV report.

The managing director sais that cancelations are more frequent than they’ve ever been before, first and foremost because of the strengthening of the currency, the Icelandic Krona, ISK.

IceNews reported about the lifting of currency restrictions last week. The ISK has been gradually strengthening in relations to other currencies in recent months and this affects export from Iceland and the tourist industry greatly.

Boking companies have booked trips in advance and as the ISK strengthens the premises of the bookings change as well, so the strengthening of the ISK now hits them hard.

The currency is still finding balance from the crash of 2008 and fluctuations are expected. The week ISK in the wake of the crash created boundless opportunities in the tourist industry and the strengthening now is diminishing those opportunities greatly.

(icenews)

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Economics

Norway’s DNO reports $6 mln profit from Iraqi Kurdistan oil in 2016

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Norwegian oil and gas company DNO generated $6 million in profits in 2016 from oil production at oil fields in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region.

In its 2016 annual report and accounts, the Norwegian company said oil production was down by 22 percent compared to 2015 levels.

Annual revenue of DNO’s oil production averaged at $202 million in 2016, generating revenue $15 million higher than a year earlier, while production was “down 22% from 2015 levels,” the company reported.

DNO’s output at the region’s Tawke oil field last year stood at 107,300 bpd, of which 105,500 bpd was exported by pipeline through Turkey’s Ceyhan port.

“The company’s production continues to be driven by the flagship Tawke field in Kurdistan,” it added.

Norwegian oil and gas company DNO announced in March this year that it has received over $58 million from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) for crude oil exports at Tawke oil field in December 2016.

The payment was to be shared pro-rata by DNO and its partner Genel Energy.

KRG Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani said during the Kurdistan-Iraq Oil and Gas Conference in December 2016 that the KRG would do all it can to ensure prompt payments to the IOCs and gas companies operating in the Kurdistan Region.

The KRG has faced an economic crisis since a dispute with Baghdad in early 2014 saw its share of the Iraqi federal budget delayed.

Erbil increased independent oil exports in an effort to make up for dwindling payments, further straining relations with the central government. The global slump in oil prices, fight against the Islamic State (ISIS) and an influx of Syrian refugees and displaced Iraqis has added more pressure on the KRG’s economy.

(ekurd)

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Economics

Deka Immobilien purchases Norwegian shopping centre

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Deka Immobilien has purchased the Bekkestua Senter Phase II shopping centre in the Greater Oslo Region for around €13m. The seller was the Norwegian project developer Profier. The property was purchased for the portfolio of the institutional fund WestInvest Target Select Shopping.

The Bekkestua Senter Phase II property was completed in August 2016 and is located approximately ten kilometres west of Oslo in one of the most prosperous areas in Norway. It offers around 2,900 m² of space and is almost fully leased to 15 tenants. The house and garden suppliers Jernia and KID Interior occupy the largest areas. The fund has owned the Bekkestua Senter Phase I property since its completion in July 2014. When purchasing the first phase of the project, Deka Immobilien secured a purchase option for the second phase of construction. A short bridge connects the two building sections.

The purchase has allowed fund management to acquire a new building in an attractive location. In addition, adding to the space acquired in Phase I enabled management to be extended across the entire project, thereby permitting the optimal management and marketing of the shopping centre as a whole.

(N.Sethu)

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Science

Norway authority reveals how to achieve future-proof wireless networks

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Internet service providers from across Europe have been given insight from Norway’s National Communications Authority on how to future-proof their wireless infrastructures within regulations to help deliver on the promise of superfast broadband.

The event sponsored by Avantis attracted more than 70 attendees and provided an overview of key considerations when delivering connectivity over wireless networks, including the importance of regulations, use of different frequencies and licensed backhaul.

‘Is your wireless infrastructure ready for the future?’ featured Gordana Lunestad, senior engineer at Norwegian Post and Telecommunications Authority (Nkom).

‘Moving the last mile?’ featured Torgeir Waterhouse, ICT Norway’s Director of Internet and New Media.

‘Wireless Fibre: Challenges and Experiences’ featured Jan-Tore Dannemark, Manager of Brieband.no.

‘Proven Wireless Solutions’ was delivered by Simon Staddon, Regional Technical Manager at Cambium Networks.

“Fibre provides fast connectivity, but is not cost-effective for many last-mile applications, and this is where a robust wireless network is absolutely vital,” said Dan McCarthy, Cambium Networks’ UK sales manager for the UK, Ireland and Nordics. “Of course, with end-users’ desire for speed and capacity continuing to grow, the quality of wireless experience and speeds must be on a par with those of fibre. The seminar aims to highlight to service providers the methodology and technologies required to achieve high performance. The good news is that this can be achieved without completely overhauling or replacing existing networks.”

As they aim to meet the increasing demand for connectivity, some wireless service providers cannot deliver the required throughput to end-users due to limitations of their existing 802.11n-based hardware. To overcome this challenge, Cambium Networks outlined how installing ePMP Elevate software enhances subscriber modules from other manufacturers and brings industry-leading performance and scalability to existing infrastructures without the time and cost of replacing network customer premise equipment (CPE).

“Many wireless broadband network operators started out years ago with small networks, but as demand for connectivity has grown, their existing networks cannot effectively scale. ePMP Elevate adds critical features to their 802.11n-based installed equipment and positions them for growth and increased customer satisfaction,” added McCarthy.

The seminar was the first in a series of Cambium Networks Roadshows. The next event will be held at Oxford’s Town Hall, in the UK, on Tuesday, March 21 and the second will take place at the Conference Centre, in Manchester on Wednesday, March 22.

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Media Freedom

Norway named Happiest 2017

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Norway has been judged to be the happiest country in the world, in the United Nations’ latest World Happiness Report, released Monday.

The Scandinavian nation, which was ranked fourth in last year’s report, jumped to the top this year on the basis of several key calculations for measuring social happiness, among them levels of caring, freedom to make life decisions, generosity, good governance, honesty, health and income.

Other factors by which 155 countries were measured in the annual World Happiness Report are: employment, income inequality, life expectancy, GDP per capita, public trust (i.e., a lack of corruption in government and business), and social support.

Denmark, last year’s Happiest Country, was ranked second on this year’s list, followed by Iceland and Switzerland.

The United States, meanwhile, has slid in the rankings, from 13th place last year to 14.

The bottom five countries on the list were Rwanda, Syria, Tanzania, Burundi, and Central African Republic.

Among the notable findings in this year’s report:

Happiness is falling in America, thanks primarily to a drop in four key indicators — access to social support, a sense of reduced personal freedom, lower donations, and a perceived increase in corruption — rather than economic causes.

Unemployment, or the quality of the work they have, is a major factor in people’s happiness. A rise in unemployment, in fact, affects the happiness of everyone, even those with jobs. And while higher pay clearly makes workers happier, work-life balance, job security, health and safety, social capital and autonomy are also predictive of a higher state of happiness on the job.

Despite China’s momentous rise in GDP over the past quarter-century, the subjective well-being of the Chinese has fallen, because of unemployment, changes in social safety nets, and periodic drops in life expectancy during that period.

In wealthier Western countries, mental health was considered a more important determinant in personal happiness than income, employment or physical health. In all countries, misery would be reduced more by eliminating depression and anxiety disorders than by reducing poverty, low education, unemployment, physical illness or a lack of social support.

Sluggish development in Africa following the end of colonial rule has led many Africans to express greater disappointment and lower levels of happiness compared to the aspirations expressed when they were first surveyed in the 1960s, though the report notes that Africans continue to express optimism about the future.

Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and a co-author of the report, says attention must be drawn to the importance of creating sound policy for what matters most to people: their well-being.

“As demonstrated by many countries, this report gives evidence that happiness is a result of creating strong social foundations,” Sachs said. “It’s time to build social trust and healthy lives, not guns or walls. Let’s hold our leaders to this fact.”

(cbsnews)

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