Friday, September 11, 2026
Terrorist

Norway’s security agency worried about possible radicalization of prisoners

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

pstNorway’s police security agency has expressed worry that convicted fighters who returned from foreign conflict zones could radicalize other prisoners in the Nordic country, daily newspaper Aftenposten reported on Thursday.

In order to prevent possible radicalization, the Norwegian Correctional Service takes in consideration the whole prisoner population when deciding who the returned foreign fighters would share their prison cells with, Benedicte Bjornland, head of the Norwegian Police Security Service (PST), told Aftenposten.

“Some of them are already serving a sentence. It is very important that this little group gets attention while being imprisoned, so as to avoid making fertile soil for radicalization of others,” she said.

According to PST statistics, there were around 90 Norwegians who went to Syria to fight. Around 30 of them came back and less than 10 of them are in custody or serving a sentence, the report said.

Radicalism represents the biggest terror threat to Norway, but the PST has no information about the Islamic State (IS) group sending foreign fighters to do something in Norway, Bjornland said.

She admitted that the PST does not have the whole overview over the places where all Norwegian foreign fighters are situated, nor whether there were people who went abroad as foreign fighters without PST knowing about it.

“We have pretty good overview, but there could be people that have returned and that we do not know about,” Bjornland said.

Marianne Vollan, director of the Correctional Services Directorate, told Aftenposten that they are very observant of the risk that recruitment of radicalists could happen in prisons, but this is not a widespread problem in Norway.

According to Norwegian law, all the Norwegian citizens or people living in Norway who have participated in terror actions abroad will be prosecuted. Changes in the law in 2013 make also participation in terrorist groups and training a criminal act.

It is also illegal to recruit members or provide economic or other material support to a terrorist organization, as well as inciting terrorism.

(Xinhua)

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Asylum

Netherlands-Cells for Asylum Seekers

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

2016_05_20_4859_1463682054._largeWith crime declining in the Netherlands, the country is looking at new ways to fill its prisons. The government has let Belgium and Norway put prisoners in empty cells and now, amid the huge flow of migrants into Europe, several Dutch prisons have been temporarily pressed into service as asylum-seeker centers.

Most of the 12 former prisons and jails housing asylum seekers have been so transformed that they are barely recognizable as former places of involuntary detention, though in some cases the thick cell doors and bars on windows are stark reminders of the past.

Prisons in the cities of Haarlem and Arnhem, with their distinctive domed roofs and circular galleries of cells around a central covered courtyard, are considered national monuments and cannot be renovated. Even so, with just under 60,000 migrants arriving in the Netherlands last year, they have been temporarily pressed into service to house hundreds of asylum seekers.

“We had to think twice about using prisons with [cell] doors,” said Janet Helder, a board member with the Dutch government agency responsible for housing asylum seekers. “Some people in the neighborhood asked, ‘how can you put people from Syria who may have been imprisoned there in a cell here?’ So we decided that if people really have a problem with it we will find somewhere else for them.”

But the prisons often are well suited to their new use, Helder added. Her organization currently is housing some 41,000 people at 120 locations throughout the Netherlands.

“The rooms are intended for one or two people, there are often gyms, a good kitchen,” she said. “So in that sense they tick many of the boxes we are looking at.”

Asylum seekers who spoke to The Associated Press during recent visits to the prisons had few complaints beyond gripes about the food. While they live in prisons, they are free to leave the buildings and grounds during the day and even spend some nights away.

Abdul Moeen Alhaji, a 16-year-old Syrian, is happy to call a prison cell in Arnhem home after initially staying in a tent in a temporary camp outside the city of Nijmegen.

“I don’t feel that it is a prison,” he said. “What matters is that we are safe here”

Menno Schot, who runs the center in the Haarlem prison, says staffers try to help the 400 migrants adapt to Dutch life as they wait for the lengthy asylum process to start.

For 18-year-old Gerbia Hajji, a Yazidi from Sinjar, Iraq, that has meant practicing riding one of the Netherlands’ ubiquitous bicycles in a courtyard at the Haarlem prison. Her husband, Yassir, was a barber back home and wants to learn Dutch so that he can pick up his trade again. He was keeping his skills up to date recently by shaping his wife’s eyebrows in the cell they share on the third floor of the Haarlem prison.

In a nearby cell, a single flower taped to its door, Hamed Karmi was also practicing — playing a keyboard while his wife, Farishta Morahami, sat on the bunk bed in their cell listening to the music, a calming way to spend a few minutes for the young couple who fled a village near the Afghan capital, Kabul, amid rising Taliban attacks. They paid smugglers $8,000 to get to Europe.

“Their safety is our main priority along with their health and daily needs,” Schot said of the prison’s new residents. “The country is new for them so we are their guide in Holland.”

(AP)

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Norwegian American

Norwegian ambassador excited for Mayfest

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

s_topTEMP325x350-2293Kåre R. Aas, the Norwegian ambassador to the United States, is in town for Mayfest, and he cannot wait to meet and speak with locals.

“I’m looking to really getting to know the Norwegian-Americans and Norwegian’s living here and who have been living here for many, many years,” he said. “I’ve wanted to come here for a very, very long time.”

Aas is well-aware of Petersburg’s history and how influential so many Norwegian families were in creating the small, Southeast fishing town. And people in the Norwegian embassy in Washington, D.C. know of Petersburg’s reputation for beautiful scenery, he said.

Aas will spend three days in town, and so far his objectives include an early morning fishing trip on Thursday. Afterward, it’s all about taking in the Little Norway festival including participation in the parade on Friday.

“Part of my job as ambassador to the United States is to be with Norwegian-Americans, and this is the place to be,” he said. “I also like, of course, to engage with Americans.”

A group of Vikings met him at the airport, something that definitely made him smile. The overcast skies and scattered rain showers made him feel at home.

He has been in his position for 33 years, and finds motivation in meeting people with a shared heritage and learning about what part of Norway the people and their families come from.

“I don’t want to retire because I like it so much,” he said laughing. “I think people like to meet me because of my position. It is interesting to hear how they settled, how they made it and what their expectations are for the future.”

Aas is used to taking a lot of pictures with people, so don’t feel shy about asking. He took a picture with the Viking welcoming party outside of the airport, and for anyone wanting to see the photo or gain a little more access to Ambassador Aas, it’s simple.

“You should follow

me on Twitter,” he said laughing loud.

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NATO and Norway

Norwegian Official: Maritime Focus for NATO at Warsaw

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan
NATO members participate in the alliance's Dynamic Mongoose anti-submarine exercise in the North Sea last year. Norway's deputy defense minister says it's time Europe devotes more money to maritime assets. (Photo: Marit Hommedal/AFP/Getty Images)

NATO members participate in the alliance’s Dynamic Mongoose anti-submarine exercise in the North Sea last year. Norway’s deputy defense minister says it’s time Europe devotes more money to maritime assets.
(Photo: Marit Hommedal/AFP/Getty Images)

When NATO gathers in Warsaw this summer for a major summit on the future of the alliance, a top Norwegian defense official hopes to see a focus on boosting maritime capabilities.

Øystein Bø, Norway’s deputy defense minister, also said it is time for Europe to “step up to the plate” with increased defense spending to counter Russian aggression, particularly in the High North region.

“The maritime domain, in our opinion, needs a particular attention,” Bø said during the 2016 NADIC Norwegian-American Defense Conference here. “NATO and its allies need to invest in high-end maritime capabilities. We need to improve and control arrangements. And we need to update contingency plans for the maritime plans.

“These are key deliverables to ensure that NATO remains politically and militarily credible,” he added.

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Sports

Norway girls third at Division 2 track regional

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

574146_1The Ishpeming boys ran as a pack in the distance races Wednesday and rolled to their third straight Division 2 regional title with 97 points.

Runner-up St. Ignace scored 44, followed by Manistique 18 1/2, Norway 15 and Gwinn 12.

Ishpeming slammed the 800, 1600 and 3200-meter runs, taking all four places in each race.

Junior Daren Guichin captured the 800 in two minutes, 16.16 seconds and 1600 (4:53.86) and Matt Ferrett copped the 3200 (11:53.92) for the Hematites who collected 33 points in the three distance races.

“Those are our cross country kids,” said Ishpeming coach P.J. Pruett. “When you have a good cross country and football program, you’re going to do well. These kids have meshed together well. We changed things around a little today. We put our eggs in one basket and it worked out.”

The Ishpeming girls retained their title with 78 points, followed by St. Ignace 58 1/2, Norway 26, Manistique 13 1/2 and Gwinn 11.

Ishpeming junior Marissa Maino won discus with a school-record toss of 110 feet, one inch and shot put (35-10).

“Going fast through the middle of the circle helped,” said Maino, who set the school shot put record (39-1) earlier this season at Westwood. “Everything just felt right. I was mentally prepared for today.”

Senior Josie Price and junior Kelsey Dehanke were Manistique’s top finishers. Price placed second in pole vault (7-6) and Dehanke was runner-up in high jump (4-6).

Sophomore Emily McDonald provided Gwinn with a first in long jump (16-8) and senior Kyra Johnson had Norway’s lone first in the 3200 (13:19.93).

“I’m pleased with how everything turned out,” said McDonald, who will likely be the top seed at the Finals. “Going into the U.P. Finals as the top seed would be a lot of pressure to live up to, but it would also be a confidence boost going in.”

Ishpeming’s Andrew Porier copped the 110 hurdles (18.61) and 300s (46.61). Isaac Olson added a first in the 200 (24.72) and was runner-up on a lean to St. Ignace senior Gage Kreski on a lean in the 100.

“The 100 was a great race,” said Kreski. “It felt like his body crossed first, but I think my leg may have gotten across a little quicker. It will be a close race at the U.P. Finals for sure.”

According to coach Mary Lou Lund, the Emeralds matched expectations in the regional.

“I figured we’d take third and that’s what we did,” she said. “I thought our boys did well. Nick is going to the Finals in four events which is a solid day for him. Overall, I’m impressed with the boys.”

Norway had a double-winner in Bryce Broden, who won high jump (5-8) and long jump (18-8). Gwinn’s Jordan Stein was runner-up in high jump on a tie-breaker.

Manistique is hosting the Mid-Peninsula Conference meet May 26 at 4 p.m.

Division 2 regional

At Manistique

Boys

Ishpeming 97 1/2, St. Ignace 44, Manistique 18 1/2, Norway 15, Gwinn 12.

3200 relay – Ishpeming, 9:46.91; 2, St. Ignace; 3, Manistique; 4, Norway.

110 hurdles – 1, Poirer, I, 18.61; 2, Shepard, SI; 3, Lund, M; 4, Gravedoni, I.

100 – 1, Kreski, SI, 12.21; 2, Olson, I; 3, Maki, I; 4, Broden, N.

800 relay – 1, Ishpeming, 1:38.72; 2, Gwinn; 3, Manistique; 4, St. Ignace.

1600 – 1, Guichin, I, 4:53.86; 2, Giroux, I; 3, Fox, I; 4, Pruett, I.

400 relay – 1, St. Ignace, 47.29; 2, Ishpeming; 3, Gwinn; 4, Norway.

400 – 1, Kipling, I, 55.4; 2, LaVake, SI; 3, Langness, I; 4, Dufour, M.

300 hurdles – 1, Poirer, I, 46.61; 2, Lund, M; 3, Gravedoni, I; 4, Shepard, SI.

800 – 1, Guichin, I, 2:16.16; 2, Mahoski, I; 3, Pruett, I; 4, Vollmer, I.

200 – 1, Olson, I, 24.72; 2, Langness, I; 3, Lund, M; 4, Kipling, I.

3200 – 1, Ferrett, I, 11:53.92; 2, Giroux, I; 3, Fox, I; 4, Pruett, I.

1600 relay – 1, Ishpeming, 3:49.72; 2, St. Ignace; 3, Gwinn; 4, Manistique.

High jump – 1, Broden, N, 5-8; 2, Stein, G; 3, Corp, I and Tobin, M (tie).

Long jump – 1, Broden, N, 18-8; 2, Coment, I; 3, Solka, I; 4, Kreski, SI.

Pole vault – 1, Peterson, SI, 11-9; 2, Kaiser, M; 3, Wood, G; 4, Lund, M.

Shot put – 1, Kreski, SI, 40-5; 2, Corp, I; 3, Tinkey, N; 4, Marshall, SI.

Discus – 1, Fullerton, SI, 116-4; 2, Finnegan, I; 3, Peterson, SI; 4, Marshall, SI.

Girls

Ishpeming 78, St. Ignace 58 1/2, Norway 26, Manistique 13 1/2, Gwinn 11.

3200 relay – 1, Ishpeming, 10:54.66; 2, St. Ignace; 3, Manistique; 4, Norway.

100 hurdles – 1, Loman, I, 18.01; 2, Law, SI; 3, Bal, N; 4, Johns, I.

100 – 1, Coveyou, SI, 14.01; 2, Terres, I; 3, Harvey, I; 4, McDonald, G.

800 relay – 1, Ishpeming, 1:56.01; 2, St. Ignace; 3, Manistique; 4, Gwinn.

1600 – 1, Swanson, I, 5:54.26; 2, Johnson, N; 3, Twork, SI; 4, Bertucci, I.

400 relay – 1, Ishpeming, 54.71; 2, St. Ignace; 3, Gwinn; 4, Norway.

400 – 1, Coveyou, SI, 1:02.89; 2, Kammers, SI; 3, Johnson, I; 4, McDonald, M.

300 hurdles – 1, Loman, I, 53.07; 2, Kraemer, N; 3, Johns, I; 4, Casey, I.

800 – 1, Swanson, I, 2:28.85; 2, Becker, SI; 3, Sjoholm, I; 4, Johnson, N.

200 – 1, Coveyou, SI, 28.67; 2, Terres, I; 3, Kraemer, N; 4, Johnson, I.

3200 – 1, Johnson, N, 13:19.93; 2, Twork, SI; 3, Swanson, I; 4, Singleton, SI.

1600 relay – 1, St. Ignace, 4:28.3; 2, Ishpeming; 3, Manistique; 4, Gwinn.

High jump – 1, Gustafson, SI, 5-2; 2, Dehanke, M; 3, Smith, I; 4, Kraemer, N.

Long jump – 1, McDonald, G, 16-8; 2, Kraemer, N; 3, Clifford, N; 4, McNamee, SI.

Pole vault – 1, Doney, I, 9-0; 2, Price, M; 3, Frazier, SI; 4, Bentley, SI and McDonald, M (tie).

Shot put – 1, Maino, I, 35-10; 2, Ostman, SI; 3, Doney, I; 4, Bruce, G.

Discus – 1, Maino, I, 110-1 (school record); 2, Ostman, SI; 3, Ki’Eircidy, N; 4, Smith, I.

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Defence

U.S-Norway Ties, Expresses Concern About ‘Revanchist’ Russia

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan
Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work meets with his Norwegian counterpart at the fourth Annual Norwegian-American Defense Conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., May 19, 2016. DoD photo by Army Sgt. 1st Class Clydell Kinchen

Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work meets with his Norwegian counterpart at the fourth Annual Norwegian-American Defense Conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., May 19, 2016. DoD photo by Army Sgt. 1st Class Clydell Kinchen

The global security landscape is changing, with a “revanchist” and “resurgent” Russia posing a major concern, Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work said here today.

Work spoke at the Norwegian-American Defense Conference at the National Press Club, where he hailed Norway’s commitment to global peace and security.

The bonds between the United States and Norway are “unbreakable,” Work said, and he thanked Norwegian counterpart, State Secretary for Defense Øystein Bø, for the invitation.

In addition to Russia, Work outlined concerns about Chinese actions in the South China Sea, North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons, Iranian “malign influence” throughout the Gulf region, terrorism and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

360-Degree Challenges for Europe

Europe and, by extension, NATO, faces challenges from 360 degrees, the deputy secretary said. To the east, west and north, it faces a “resurgent and apparently antagonistic Russia,” while from the south and from within, terrorism and violent extremism are concerns.

Migration along Europe’s southern flank is a daunting challenge caused by terrorism and violent extremism, he said.

“We feel that we are at a strategic inflection point in the strategic landscape,” Work told the forum. “The next 25 years in the international security environment is going to be much, much different than the last 25.”

‘Steadfast Partner’ in Norway

Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work makes keynote remarks at the Norwegian-American Defense Industry/Homeland Security Council's 4th annual Norwegian-American Defense Conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., May 19, 2016. DoD photo by Army Sgt. 1st Class Clydell Kinchen

Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work makes keynote remarks at the Norwegian-American Defense Industry/Homeland Security Council’s 4th annual Norwegian-American Defense Conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., May 19, 2016. DoD photo by Army Sgt. 1st Class Clydell Kinchen

Norway is a “steadfast partner” to the United States, Work said, noting it stood with the U.S. after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Norwegian troops served with U.S. forces in Afghanistan, he said, and the Nordic nation is part of the coalition against ISIL.

He applauded Norway’s recent decision to send 60 additional personnel to augment the 120 who are already in the fight, and to send a medical team to northern Iraq. That medical team will be especially important, Work said, as forces push toward Mosul.

The 60 additional personnel are predominantly special operations forces who are going to help train vetted Syrian Arab Sunni fighters, Work said.

The secretary highlighted the strong ties between the nations. He noted he visited Norway last year, and President Barack Obama hosted Nordic leaders last week at a summit in Washington. The Marine Corps also has a pre-positioning program in Norway, he pointed out.

‘Revanchist’ Russia Seeking Path of Aggression

Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work poses for a photo with his Norwegian counterpart at the Norwegian-American Defense Industry/Homeland Security Council's fourth annual Norwegian-American Defense Conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., May 19, 2016. DoD photo by Army Sgt. 1st Class Clydell Kinchen

Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work poses for a photo with his Norwegian counterpart at the Norwegian-American Defense Industry/Homeland Security Council’s fourth annual Norwegian-American Defense Conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., May 19, 2016. DoD photo by Army Sgt. 1st Class Clydell Kinchen

A “revanchist and a resurgent Russia” is “pursuing a path of confrontation, aggression and coercion,” Work said.

In 2012, the United States thought it was on a “path to partnership” with Russia, and reduced its last two heavy brigades from Europe, he said. The U.S. “believed and wanted to have a productive partnership with Russia into the future,” Work added.

However, Russia in March 2014 illegally annexed Crimea and started to destabilize eastern Ukraine, he said. Russia has engaged in “nuclear saber rattling,” Work said, adding that it has made threats against NATO allies, most recently Romania and Poland for hosting ballistic missile defense sites.

By 2017, the United States will have a full military division back in Europe, Work said. The United States, he said, is “exercising muscles” it hasn’t used since the Cold War.

He said the United States felt it was important to be a deterrent and reassure its European allies it would be there to respond to Russia if needed.

“Even as we pursue the defeat of ISIL, and other violent extremist groups, we must also vigorously respond to the challenge in the east – Russia,” he said.

He pointed out “reckless” behaviors from Russia, including “unsafe and unprofessional maneuvers” by Russian military aircraft and naval vessels.

Maintaining Technological Advantage

Budget pressures have led to a decline in research and development, he said, noting that the center of innovation has shifted to the commercial sector, and competitors have access to these technologies.

The United States needs to stay ahead and must seek to keep pace with the evolving, dynamic commercial sector, he said. He outlined DoD’s “third offset strategy” that highlights the important role of innovation and advanced technology.

Artificial intelligence and autonomy are going to be central to operations, he said.

“Right now, we see artificial intelligence and autonomy affecting all of our lives — and the lives of all of our citizens,” he said. Just as the rifle, telegraph and railroad changed the way wars were fought and changed the character of war, so will artificial intelligence and autonomy, he added.

For more photos of Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work at the Norwegian-American Defense Conference, visit DepSecDef Flickr.

(DoD News, Defense Media Activity)

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Defence

Norway Reviewing Submarine Base Infrastructure, Capacity

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

635933069812668310-DFN-Norway-Ula-subThe Norwegian Defense Forces are reviewing options to improve general base infrastructure and capacity for the navy’s submarine fleet. The facilities’ review has come into focus in the wake of a government decision to favor an international partnership solution in any future delivery of a new submarine class to the navy.

The Norwegian Navy operates a fleet of six Ula-class submarines. Commissioned between 1989 and 1992, the aging subs are scheduled to be phased out in the 2020s.

The appraisal of the navy’s submarine base infrastructure is also expected to include port and housing capacity for “visiting” submarines from NATO countries.

Against a backdrop of military-strengthening and muscle flexing by Russia in the region, the Norwegian government supports an increased US and NATO naval presence in the waters in the Arctic High North.

In April, Norway’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) identified France’s Direction des Constructions Navales Services (DCNS) and the German company ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) as the strongest candidates should Norway decide to procure a new submarine-class.

The current fleet of Ula subs operate from the navy’s main base at Haakonsvern, near the west coast city of Bergen.

The navy’s submarine base infrastructure had included the Olavsvern facility near Tromsø in Northern Norway. This base, which cost US$500 million to construct and fit-out, was decommissioned in 2009.

The Olavsvern facility, which contains tunnels burrowed in to mountainside rock, is currently leased to research institutes funded by Russia and closely connected to the oil company Gazprom.

The base at Olavsvern was used extensively by US and British nuclear powered attack submarines patrolling Arctic waters during the Cold War. The facility was also used by NATO submarine commanders to rest crews and carry out repairs.

One possible recourse, as the MoD explores infrastructure base capacity options for the Navy’s future submarine fleet, is that the government may pursue a lease-back agreement on Olavsvern.

A lease-back would give the Norwegian Navy a strategic base in the High North for its own submarine fleet, and submarines from NATO nations. Olavsvern is located around 217 miles (350km) north of the Arctic Circle.

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Politics

“Education cannot wait.”

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan
DSC_4260

Lana Wong/Education Commission

*‘HUMANITARIAN 100’ OFFERS BREAKTHROUGH HOPE FOR DISPLACED AND DISASTER-AFFECTED CHILDREN
 
*OSLO SUMMIT DELIVERS ON PROMISE AS NEW GLOBAL EDUCATION IN EMERGENCIES FUND TO BE LAUNCHED AT FIRST WORLD HUMANITARIAN SUMMIT IN ISTANBUL

*EDUCATION COMMISSIONERS ANNOUNCE SUPPORT FOR NEW FINANCING FOR EDUCATION IN EMERGENCIES

*UN EDUCATION ENVOY GORDON BROWN CHALLENGES WORLD TO WAKE UP TO ‘FULL-BLOWN CRISIS’ AND COSTS OF A LOST GENERATION DENIED SCHOOLING

More than 100 of the world’s leading countries, companies and philanthropists are to join forces to create a ‘major breakthrough’ in the fight to provide education for millions of children displaced by conflicts and natural disasters.

The new ‘Education Cannot Wait’ fund is being launched next week at the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul. Establishment of the fund was agreed last July at the Oslo Summit on Education for Development.

United Nations Special Envoy Gordon Brown says action now has to happen urgently because this is becoming a “full-blown global crisis” that will haunt the world for generations with 20 million school-age child refugees or displaced persons denied an education.

Speaking to correspondents at UN Headquarters in New York, Brown said that the new fund could be the only chance to save a generation lost to war, child marriage, forced labour and the recruiters for violent extremism.

Mr. Brown will urge Western leaders, in particular, to step up to the plate and act now.

DSC_4126

Lana Wong/Education Commission

GLOBAL LEADERS BACK CREATION OF GROUNDBREAKING NEW FUND

The fund – a historic, global first that will seek substantial sums from governments and business – is being hailed as a ‘game changer’ in urgently targeting the needs of 30 million displaced children – the largest population of uprooted girls and boys since 1945.

These 30 million make up some of the 75 million children and youth who have seen their education severely disrupted because of conflicts, natural disasters and other crises.

Mr. Brown will unveil support from UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and a number of world leaders, including Graça Machel.

International Commission on Financing Global Education Opportunity Commissioner Amel Karboul, Secretary-General of the Maghreb Economic Forum and Former Minister of Tourism of Tunisia, has also enthusiastically backed the new fund:

She said: “We talk about securing the future of global education by disrupting education – changing the narrative and how we secure rights for millions of out-of-school children. With the launch of Education Cannot Wait, this is what we mean.

“I hope this will be but the first achievement in the march towards making education disruptions during emergencies a thing of the past. And I hope the international community will join us in seeing this promise come to fruition.”

The goal is to recruit 100 major donors – from philanthropic foundations and the business sector as well as governments and international agencies.

Education Cannot Wait has been three years in the making. It will fill the gap where education falls through the net – between humanitarian aid, which focuses on food and shelter, and development aid, which is by definition focused on the long-term.

Official figures from UN OCHA show that education aid secures less than TWO PER CENT of emergency funding.

The new fund has unique features: 

• It will offer not weeks of educational emergency help but up to FIVE YEARS, recognising that the average time a refugee is out of their country is more than 10 years.

• It will have private sector, foundation and philanthropic windows and will be the first comprehensive education public partnership in humanitarian aid.

• It will engage philanthropic companies in innovative solutions to deliver education, including bold experiments in online education to help refugees in camps and those holed up in hovels, huts and tents.

The ultimate aim for Education Cannot Wait is to transform humanitarian aid for the future.

Mr. Brown, the UN Special Envoy for Global Education, said: 

DSC_4098

Lana Wong/Education Commission

“This is a lost generation we must help urgently. We live in a world where refugee needs are not temporary, with many spending more than a decade out of country.

“For too long we have neglected the education of young people in conflict zones – at the cost of making youth the recruits for terrorist groups and their parents the most likely to leave and seek a better future for their children in Europe or America.

“When we ask ourselves what breaks once-thriving young children, it is not just the Mediterranean wave that submerges the life vest, nor the food convoy that does not make it to Madaya in Syria. It is also the absence of hope – the soul-crushing certainty that there is nothing ahead to plan or prepare for, not even a place in school.”

Many businesses have already agreed to take part alongside many of the world’s top aid donors. Individual philanthropists have also been approached.

The new fund will build on the recent Syrian initiative promising one million Syrian refugees schooling in Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan but it will also occur in Nepal where 900,000 children are out of school because of the earthquake emergency, in South Sudan where one third of children are denied schooling and in Nigeria where Boko Haram have closed 5,000 schools.

Further support has come from Yuriko Koike, Member of the House of Representatives (Japan) and Former Japanese Minister of Defense, also a member of The Education Commission.

Yuriko Koike said: “Today, 75 million school-age children are affected worldwide by wars, conflicts and natural disasters. Given that half of them are girls, some are subjected to being sold and some give birth to new refugees due to a lack of knowledge about contraception.

DSC_4014

Lana Wong/Education Commission

“It is urgent that we ensure their access to education while delivering food, water, shelter and protection. The international community and the public must contribute to Education Cannot Wait — an embrace innovative new ways of financing — to harness public and private resources for education in emergencies.

Jakaya Kikwete, former President of Tanzania and member of The Education Commission said: “In times of conflict and disaster, we must prioritize education. We can no longer be complacent with business as usual. The new education in emergencies fund will bridge the humanitarian-development divide to provide life-saving education.

Bilateral and multilateral donors must fully finance this initiative because “education cannot wait.”

His call was backed up by Justin W. van Fleet, Director of the International Commission on Financing Global Education Opportunity and Chief of Staff to the UN Education Envoy, who said: Education Cannot Wait will be a new, historic fund to deliver education in emergencies and realise the long-awaited promise for children and youth impacted by crises and conflict. The ambitious fund will be aimed squarely at bucking the trend in the growing number of refugees, displaced persons and children locked out of opportunity during circumstances beyond their control – whether it be earthquakes, floods, outbreaks or armed conflict.”

The Commission is co-convened by Prime Minister Solberg (Norway), Presidents Bachelet (Chile), Widodo (Indonesia), Mutharika (Malawi) and UNESCO Director-General Bokova.

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Norwegian American

Norwegian ambassador in for Petersburg’s Little Norway festival

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

width_650.height_300.mode_FillAreaWithCrop.pos_Default.color_WhiteNorway’s ambassador to the U.S. arrived in Petersburg Wednesday to enjoy the community’s Little Norway Festival.

Kåre Aas is from Oslo, and began working for Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1983.

He has served as Norway’s ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan as well as political director in the foreign affairs ministry before becoming the ambassador to the U.S. in 2013.

Aas stopped by KFSK right off the afternoon jet on Wednesday and Joe Viechnicki spoke with him about the festival week and other topics.

Aas will be in town until Saturday morning and plans to go fishing and take part in the festival parade.

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Africa and Norway

UK-US-Norway joint statement on South Sudan peace process

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Capture11-589x357“Together with my Troika colleagues, I welcome the long-awaited formation of South Sudan’s transitional government of national unity,” said Foreign Minister Børge Brende.

“We also welcome the April 26 statements by President Salva Kiir and First Vice President Riek Machar calling for cooperation, reconciliation, and peaceful coexistence. South Sudan’s leaders must now put political differences aside and start the difficult task of rebuilding their country. While formation of the transitional government is a step forward, with thousands dead, widespread atrocities committed and millions displaced from their homes this is no time for celebration, but for new commitment to seize this second chance to reclaim the promise of South Sudan.

Today the international community stands united in urging the transitional government to start working for the people of South Sudan. The fighting must stop, decisive action must be taken to tackle the economic crisis and there must be full cooperation with the UN and humanitarian agencies to ensure aid reaches those in need; formal and informal impediments must be removed.

“The Troika countries, UK, US and Norway, will remain long term partners and friends of South Sudan’s people. We stand ready to support the transitional government if it shows it is serious about working for the good of the country and implementing the peace agreement in full. In that regard, decisions undermining provisions the parties agreed to in negotiations, such as not fully meeting obligations for women’s participation in the council of ministers, sets a concerning precedent at the beginning of the transition. We expect the transitional government to honour its commitments. The people of South Sudan deserve nothing less.”

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Diplomatic relations

Foreign Minister congratulates Erik Solheim on nomination as head of UNEP

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Erik_Solheim_om_hjelpeorganisasjonene‘I would like to congratulate Erik Solheim on his nomination as Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). UNEP will be gaining a deeply committed leader with long experience and extensive knowledge of environmental and development issues. I look forward to working closely with Mr Solheim in his new position,’ said Minister of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has announced his intention to appoint Erik Solheim as new Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme. The Norwegian Government has actively supported Erik Solheim’s candidacy for the post. Mr Solheim will take over from the present UNEP Executive Director, Achim Steiner, when he steps down on 1 July this year.

‘Norway would like to see a strong UN when it comes to the environment. Mr Solheim will take over the leadership of UNEP at an important crossroads. 2015 was the warmest year globally since records began. It was also the year when world leaders reached agreement in Paris to work together to reduce global warming to well under two degrees, and also adopted the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the period up to 2030. UNEP has an important role to play in the work to achieve these goals in the coming years,’ said Minister of Climate and Environment Vidar Helgesen.

Norway has been a staunch supporter of UNEP, both politically and financially, since its establishment in 1972. This year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will enter into a new framework agreement with UNEP and will continue to provide substantial support.

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Asia and Norway

Norway condemns terrorist attacks in Iraq

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

al‘We were horrified and deeply saddened to receive the news of Wednesday’s terrorist attacks in Baghdad. I would like to convey my deepest condolences to the Iraqi people, who are so often the target of terrorist attacks. The attacks are a clear demonstration of ISIL’s contempt for human life and norms of human decency,’ said Minister of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende.

‘We were horrified and deeply saddened to receive the news of Wednesday’s terrorist attacks in Baghdad. I would like to convey my deepest condolences to the Iraqi people, who are so often the target of terrorist attacks. The attacks are a clear demonstration of ISIL’s contempt for human life and norms of human decency,’ said Minister of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende.

Yesterday morning, reports emerged of an attack on a market in the Shia-dominated Sadr City district of Baghdad. 64 people are reported to have been killed and 87 injured in this attack alone, among them many women and children. A further two attacks took place in other parts of Baghdad later in the day. In total, at least 94 people are reported to have been killed in yesterday’s three attacks at separate locations in Baghdad, and at least 150 people have been injured. These are the deadliest attacks on the Iraqi capital so far this year, and it is feared that the death toll will continue to rise. ISIL has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

‘Sadly we often hear reports from Iraq about terrorist attacks claiming many lives, but the scale of yesterday’s attacks was particularly horrifying. ISIL must be fought both in Syria and Iraq,’ Mr Brende said.

The security situation in Baghdad is volatile and there have been several terrorist attacks in Baghdad this year. Moreover, parts of Iraq are under ISIL’s control. Norway is participating actively in the international coalition to counter ISIL, and is helping to train Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga in Northern Iraq. Furthermore, the Government has recently decided to step up Norway’s efforts by increasing the Norwegian contribution to the international coalition against ISIL, both by providing a new military contribution and by strengthening civilian efforts.

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Media Freedom

Norway to be Guest of Honour at the 2019 Frankfurt Book Fair

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

brende_borge‘The arts are a key element of the global exchange of ideas and opinions, and it is important for Norway to make its voice heard here. This is one of the Government’s priorities, and we are therefore delighted that Norway has been chosen as Guest of Honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2019,’ said Minister of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende.
The Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries have all supported the book industry’s initiative to achieve Guest of Honour status, which also enjoys strong support in the Storting.

‘The Government is supporting this initiative both because we want to promote freedom of expression and because we are proud of contemporary Norwegian literature,’ said Mr Brende, and pointed out that Germany is a very important market for Norwegian culture.

‘Contemporary Norwegian literature is world class, thanks to authors such as Åsne Seierstad, Linn Ullmann, Per Petterson, Jo Nesbø and Karl Ove Knausgård. Norway’s status as Guest of Honour can help promising new Norwegian authors to reach a wider public and promote a wider range of Norwegian authors internationally,’ said Minister of Culture Linda Hofstad Helleland.

In Norway, about 4 % of jobs are in the creative industries. For many artists and other cultural professionals, exchanges with other countries, commissions abroad and foreign sales are vital.

Germany is Norway’s second largest trade partner
‘It is important for the business sector that Norwegian culture makes its mark in our largest markets. This opens up opportunities for cooperation, and Norway’s creativity can become better known. This is the image of Norway we want to convey to the business sector in other countries,’ said Minister of Trade and Industry Monica Mæland. ‘We hope the Frankfurt initiative will offer many useful opportunities for cooperation between the cultural sector, cultural industries and the rest of the business sector.’

Norway will use its status as Guest of Honour at the book fair to promote Norwegian literature internationally. This will also be an opportunity to promote other art forms and Norway as a country. Both Iceland and Finland, the book fair’s guests of honour in 2011 and 2014, experienced a huge surge in interest from the world as a whole. Many new authors from these countries have been able to reach the German and the wider international public.

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Environment

The Moratorium on soy in Brazil is extended

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

br-areaIn Brazil this week it was announced that the moratorium on soy will be extended. This is good news for the Brazilian rainforest, says Vidar Helgesen.

During the last ten years, the moratorium on soy has been one of the key initiatives in Brazil’s fight towards reducing deforestation. The moratorium blocks companies from producing and selling soybeans that contribute to deforestation in the Amazon.

– This good news from Brazil means that future Brazilian soy production can be done without harming the Amazon rainforest. This is great for the rainforest, but also for the private sector wanting sustainable production and sales of soy from Brazil, says the Norwegian Minister for Climate and the Environment, Vidar Helgesen.

On Monday, the Brazilian Minister for Climate, Izabella Teixeira, together with ABIOVE and Greenpeace, announced that the 2006 moratorium on soy will be extended, this time indefinitely.

The moratorium on soy is seen as one of the most efficient measures against deforestation in the Amazon. Deforestation as a result of soy production today accounts for less than 1 percent of the total Amazon deforestation, according to Brazil’s National Space Institute (INPE).

In total, the moratorium covers 4 million km2, an area ten times the size of Norway.

In 2008, Norway committed up to 6 billion kroner (NOK) to the Amazon Fund, if Brazil reduced the rate of deforestation in the Amazon. Preliminary data show that Brazil has reduced deforestation by nearly 60 percent.

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Asylum

Measures to address the refugee crisis

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

The Ministry of Justice and Public Security has drawn up a range of measures to tighten the immigration rules and make it less attractive for people to seek asylum in Norway. These have now been distributed for comment.
The 150-page document contains a total of 40 major or minor amendments to the current legislation. There is a six-week deadline for commenting on these proposals.

Read the proposals here (Norwegian only)

‘We are giving top priority to tightening the immigration rules. Although we are now seeing a reduction in the number of people entering the country, we must ensure that our Immigration Act is adapted so that we are able to address large-scale migration challenges,’ said Minister of Immigration and Integration Sylvi Listhaug (Progress Party).

‘All the proposals take into account our commitments under international law. The restrictions apply to rights under Norwegian law that extend beyond the provisions of the UN Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights,’ Ms Listhaug continued.

The Government’s proposals have been drawn up in response to key aspects of the broad agreement reached in the Storting (Norwegian parliament) on tightening up the immigration rules. They include:
Restrictions on the right to family reunion.

Integration criteria for permanent residence.

Greater opportunity to return people whose applications for asylum are clearly unfounded.

Deadline for lodging an appeal following rejection of an application for asylum reduced from three weeks to one week for applications that are clearly unfounded.

Effective ID clarification.
Simplification of processing routines when an application can be refused individual consideration.
New categories of temporary protection.

A new category of protection that differentiates between refugees as defined in the UN Convention and others who cannot be returned to their country of origin due to other obligations under international law.

The Government has also presented proposals for reducing the influx of asylum seekers:
Unaccompanied minors to be given protection on a temporary basis until the age of 18.

The legal basis to decide not to consider individual applications from asylum seekers who enter Norway directly from a neighbouring Nordic country.‘We are presenting these proposals in order to reduce the number of people arriving in Norway who are not entited to protection. This will enable us to deal with the large numbers of asylum seekers in a responsible manner.

I consider these proposals to be in line with several of the points agreed on by the Storting,’ said Ms Listhaug.

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Svalbard

White paper on the future of Svalbard

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

sivalbadBy strengthening research, tourism and the general businesses the government will develop Svalbard further. This is revealed in the White Paper regarding Svalbard presented by the government today.

– The essence of the White Paper is that the Norwegian policies regarding Svalbard remain unchanged and in the future Longyearbyen shall continue to be a viable local community that attracts families, says Anders Anundsen, Minister of Justice and Public Security (Progress Party).

To support the local government of Longyearbyen’s ongoing work to secure the buildings after the avalanche last winter, the government proposes a grant of NOK 10 million in the revised national budget. This is in addition to the NOK 50 million to secure work places and restructuring that was granted in 2015. The government has also facilitated an operation rest with reference to the Svea and Lunckefjell mines up to three years from 2017 which will allow more time to restructuring.

– By increased efforts to secure ongoing activities as tourism, research and higher education, we will continue to develop the society of Longyearbyen. We will initiate an effort to develop the tourism in the area of the Isfjord and the nearby local communities. In addition, we will facilitate a development of a more versatile business within the frames of the Svalbard policy, says Anundsen.

The White Paper further reveals that the government will develop a general strategy in relation to research and higher education at Svalbard.

– A clear Norwegian host role based on professional leadership in relevant fields is important. To contribute to this, changes will be made in relation to organizing and running of the research activity in Ny- Ålesund, says Anundsen.

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Science

Fighting cancer with the help of someone else’s immune cells

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

cancerA new step in cancer immunotherapy: researchers from the Netherlands Cancer Institute and University of Oslo/Oslo University Hospital show that even if one’s own immune cells cannot recognize and fight their tumors, someone else’s immune cells might. Their proof of principle study is published in the journal Science on May 19th.

The study shows that adding mutated DNA from cancer cells into immune stimulating cells from healthy donors create an immune response in the healthy immune cells. Inserting the targeted components from the donor immune cells back into the immune cells of the cancer patients, the researchers were able to make cancer patients’ own immune cells recognize cancer cells.

The extremely rapidly developing field of cancer immunotherapy aims to create technologies that help the body’s own immune system to fight cancer. There are a number of possible causes that can prevent the immune system from controlling cancer cells. First, the activity of immune cells is controlled by many ‘brakes’ that can interfere with their function, and therapies that inactivate these brakes are now being tested in many human cancers. As a second reason, in some patients the immune system may not recognize the cancer cells as aberrant in the first place. As such, helping the immune system to better recognize cancer cells is one of the main focuses in cancer immunotherapy.

Ton Schumacher of the Netherlands Cancer Institute and Johanna Olweus of the University of Oslo and Oslo University Hospital decided to test whether a ‘borrowed immune system’ could “see” the cancer cells of the patient as aberrant. The recognition of aberrant cells is carried out by immune cells called T cells. All T cells in our body scan the surface of other cells, including cancer cells, to check whether they display any protein fragments on their surface that should not be there. Upon recognition of such foreign protein fragments, T cells kill the aberrant cells. As cancer cells harbor faulty proteins, they can also display foreign protein fragments – also known as neoantigens – on their surface, much in the way virus-infected cells express fragments of viral proteins.

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To address whether the T cells of a patient react to all the foreign protein fragments on cancer cells, the research teams first mapped all possible neoantigens on the surface of melanoma cells from three different patients. In all 3 patients, the cancer cells seemed to display a large number of different neoantigens. But when the researchers tried to match these to the T cells derived from within the patient’s tumors, most of these aberrant protein fragments on the tumor cells went unnoticed.

Next, they tested whether the same neoantigens could be seen by T-cells derived from healthy volunteers. Strikingly, these donor-derived T cells could detect a significant number of neoantigens that had not been seen by the patients’ T cells.

“In a way, our findings show that the immune response in cancer patients can be strengthened; there is more on the cancer cells that makes them foreign that we can exploit. One way we consider doing this is finding the right donor T cells to match these neoantigens.”, says Ton Schumacher. “The receptor that is used by these donor T-cells can then be used to genetically modify the patient’s own T cells so these will be able to detect the cancer cells”.

“Our study shows that the principle of outsourcing cancer immunity to a donor is sound. However, more work needs to be done before patients can benefit from this discovery. Thus, we need to find ways to enhance the throughput. We are currently exploring high-throughput methods to identify the neoantigens that the T cells can “see” on the cancer and isolate the responding cells. But the results showing that we can obtain cancer-specific immunity from the blood of healthy individuals are already very promising”, says Johanna Olweus.

Explore further: Genomic makeup of colorectal cancers predicts immune system ability to fight tumors
More information: “Targeting of cancer neoantigens with donor-derived T cell receptor repertoires” Science, DOI: 10.1126/science.aaf2288

Journal reference: Science
Provided by: Netherlands Cancer Institute

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Oil & Gas

Stian Hasle New Head Of Investor Relations In Hydro

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

stian_hasle_183x274Stian Hasle has been appointed head of Investor Relations in Norsk Hydro  ASA and will, effective June 1, be responsible for Hydro’s contact with investors and financial markets.

He will report to Executive Vice President and CFO Eivind Kallevik.

Hasle comes from the position as senior analyst in Primary Metal  Portfolio Development. He has a Master of Science in International  Finance, from Ceram Sophia Antipolis in France and the University of Westminster in UK.

He joined Hydro in 2005 as a corporate trainee  within Finance. He then spent four years in the role of Investor relations officer before taking up his current role.

Hasle succeeds Pål Kildemo, who will take on a position as Head of  Finance in Hydro’s Primary Metal business area.

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Sports

On the first mountain stage in Norway, José showed strong legs

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

bilde-18.05.2016ARGON 18 was keen to save energy during the day. Therefore, the team decided today to try to get into the group of the day and not to work in the peloton instead. It took more than one hour until a group got clear and once again Cesare Benedetti was at the right time in the right place. The group of 5 riders than built up a gap of more than 5 minutes, but when the race favourites started to position themselves before the last climb, the gap came down fast.

On the foot of the last climb the break was caught and the peloton back together. Several teams then tried to make a decisive move on this last climb and due to this high pace a leading group of 10 took the point on the KOM. Within this group was José Mendes from BORA – ARGON 18 who already showed improved condition in the Giro del Trentino. In the finale P. Weening attacked successfully and scored a solo win. José crossed the line in 7th place which also means a good position to go for the GC in the next stages.

“I thought the group today had a chance to make it to the finish because also the WorldTour teams Lotto-Soudal and NL Lotto where part of it. But the gap came down very fast before the last climb. The team then did a great job by supporting José in the beginning of this climb. This was a little frantic point of the race today after everything was back together again. José made a strong impression and finished with the best. I am happy with that, but I also think that tomorrow’s stage suits him even more and there is a good chance that he climbs up the GC even further.” – Christian Pömer, sports director

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Farming

Yara opens import and bagging terminal

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Yara2-650x400Norwegian fertiliser giant Yara officially opened its new import and bagging terminal at Ringaskiddy, Co Cork.
Opening the new terminal, Yara chief executive Svein Tore Holesther said he sees Ireland as an important market for the business.

“Irish farms are among the most productive in the world, but there is always room to improve,” he added.

Nicholas Morrison, head of Yara’s business in Ireland, said it had been a journey to Ringaskiddy for the world’s largest producer of nitrogen.

He said that Yara’s branded presence in Ireland was not well known, but that gave it the chance to grow.

Local service

He said locating close to the Munster and south Leinster region was an obvious choice given the strength of dairying there.

He said Yara will be offering farmers complex compounds on the NPK side, with an aim to sell 1m tonnes a year to 12,000 farmers.

Morrison added that despite being a global player, Yara understood it needed to be local to service farmers and that’s why it had established the new terminal in Ringaskiddy.

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Norwegian Aid

Norway Supports Fund for UN Personnel Abuse Victims

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

brende_borge‘Norway is deeply concerned about the rising number of allegations against UN personnel concerning sexual exploitation and abuse. In 2015, 99 allegations were received, as compared with 80 in 2014. Norway shares the Secretary-General’s distress at these despicable crimes, and we commend his determination to stop this scourge through a robust programme of action,’ said Minister of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende.

This week, Mr Brende was in New York to take part in the High-level Thematic Debate on UN, Peace and Security.

‘Sexual exploitation and abuse undermines the credibility of the whole UN system and can ruin victims’ lives. It is totally unacceptable that vulnerable groups are exploited in this way, and we must put the needs of the victims first. Norway therefore welcomes the Secretary-General’s recent decision to establish a trust fund. Norway has decided to allocate NOK 1 million to the trust fund,’ Mr Brende said.

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Economics

Same but different: How Alaska and Norway are handling low oil prices

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

160516_KareAasNorway_Waldholz-830x553An oil-dependent economy straddling the Arctic Circle, battered by low prices but sitting on a massive savings account. That could describe Alaska, but it also describes Norway.

Norway’s ambassador to the United States is in Alaska this week, to celebrate that country’s May 17 Constitution Day with Norwegian Americans in Anchorage and Petersburg.

But he couldn’t avoid questions about how his country is handling low oil prices — and what Alaska might learn from Norway’s example.

At the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, Lise Falskow, of the Alaska World Affairs Council, asked Norwegian Ambassador Kare Aas whether he had any advice for lawmakers in Juneau struggling to close a $4 billion budget hole.

“I don’t,” Aas said, to laughter.

But, he said he could talk about what’s happening in Norway — where, for the record, he said, nobody is freaking out.

Because while Alaska and Norway have plenty in common — including a northern location, economies built around oil and gas, and massive savings accounts — there are also some major differences.

For starters, Norway’s economy is far more diversified, Aas said, pointing to the maritime industry, fisheries, IT, tourism — and one sector anathema to many Alaskans: farmed Atlantic salmon.

In all, he estimated Norway only gets about 20 percent of government revenue from oil and gas. That’s compared with nearly 90 percent of unrestricted state funds in Alaska just a few years ago.

And while Norway founded its sovereign wealth fund some two decades after Alaska, it’s grown to more than $850 billion. Alaska’s Permanent Fund currently has about $53 billion.

Aas said there is broad consensus that Norway’s fund must be saved for a post-oil future.

“The basic idea, that this is for the next generation and generations after that, is so solid, so part of, I would say, the Norwegian society,” he said.

The Norwegian government can use a percentage of the fund’s value to cover budget needs, though this year marked the first time ever that it exercised that right. That design is similar to a proposal before the Alaska Legislature to draw on Permanent Fund earnings to fund state government.

Another key difference? Norway never got rid of its taxes — a point raised by a member of the Anchorage audience, who asked if Norway still has an income tax. “Oh yes,” Aas said.

“We have income tax. We have a sales tax of 25 percent,” he said. “We have probably the highest gasoline prices in the world.”

One result of all these policy differences, Aas said, is that unlike Alaska, where lawmakers are struggling to cut state spending, Norway’s government has expanded spending in the face of low oil prices, in an attempt to stimulate the economy and soften the impacts of job losses in oil-dependent regions.

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Corruption in Norway

Norwegian government files $39million claim

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Screen Shot 2016-05-19 at 11.38.21The Norwegian government has filed a $39million compensation claim against seismic specialist TGS.

The claim alleges the Norwegian firm helped Skeie Energy in obtaining undue tax advantages Petroleum Tax Act.

The lost taxes relate to when TGS sold Skeie Energy seismic data in 2009.

However, TGS deny the allegations.

A company spokesperson said: “TGS denies any wrongdoing and maintains its position that it is not liable for the claims.

“TGS views the sale of seismic data to Skeie Energy as a legitimate transaction between two independent companies, involving a sale of high quality seismic data at market prices. TGS was also advised by third party legal and financial experts in relation to the transaction. TGS received no tax benefits from the sale of the seismic data.”

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