Posts Tagged ‘Norway Post’
Monday, May 10th, 2010
Representatives from the Russian Federation and the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research have agreed to cooperate on meteorology and higher education.
“We have common challenges and interests in higher education and knowledge, especially in the northern areas regarding energy and environmental studies, marine sciences, and also in social studies and language,” said Tora Aasland, the Norwegian Minister of Research and Higher Education.
The new agreements coincided with the state visit to Norway of the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, which further enhanced broad co-operation already in place between the two countries, reports The Norway post.
In the area of higher education, several measures have been implemented to solidify relationships, including special grants for institutions in the Northern Area and the introduction of a new student Quota Scheme. After Germany, Russian nationals now constitute Norway’s second largest body of foreign students.
The purpose of the meteorology agreement is to foster improved weather forecasting around the Barents Sea, which is seen as crucial to strengthening economic and trade co-operation in the north. The arrangement will see meteorological information, expert analysis and resources shared between the two countries.
“Meteorological information for the northern areas is crucial for understanding the global climate trend. This agreement is also a contribution from the two countries to perhaps the greatest challenge in the years ahead,” claimed Aasland.
YP Trutnev, the Russian Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology, signed the meteorological agreement, while the higher education agreement was affirmed by the Education and Science Ministry’s State Secretary, Deputy Minister YP Sentyurin and Tora Aasland.
Tags: Arctic Sea, Barents Sea, Dmitry Medvedev, Education Agreement, Global Climate, Information Expert, Minister Of Natural Resources, Northern Areas, Norway Post, Norwegian Minister, Norwegian Ministry, Quota Scheme, Russian Minister, Russian Nationals, Russian Navy, Science Ministry, Sea Patrols, Secretary Deputy, Skyrockets, Student Quota
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Friday, May 7th, 2010
The first satellite to be developed in Norway is set to be launched in India.
AISSat-1, a cube-shaped nano satellite weighing just six kilograms and measuring 20 x 20 x 20cm, will be used to improve the surveillance of marine activity in the High North through a highly developed recognition program.
AIS (Automatic Identification System) technology is based on the short-range maritime coastal traffic systems currently employed by the Vessel Traffic Services and ships around the world.
AIS is mandatory on all seagoing vessels weighing 300 tonnes or more, with its primary function being to prevent collisions at sea in addition to allowing maritime authorities to track boat movements. The technology also allows ship-to-ship communication via VHF signals from land-based stations, although until now this has been limited to the field of vision.
The Norway Post reports that the AISSat-1 will feature an onboard receiver that has been designed to extend the current surveillance range of authorities, while at the same time making the task of monitoring fishing boats and shipping traffic easier across the High North.
The altitude of the AISSat-1 will provide the AIS receiver with a far wider scope for observation, thereby making supervision over a greater area possible. The nano satellite will emit signals strong enough to be relayed to a lower orbiting receiver which will then process and deliver the information.
The High North’s relatively low traffic density means that just one antennae and one receiver should be sufficient to handle the projected number of AIS messages. The launch of the Norwegian Space Centre-owned AISSat-1 will determine if these presumptions are correct.
Tags: 20cm, Antennae, Cargo Ship, Coastal Traffic, Collisions At Sea, Electric Cars, Field Of Vision, Fishing Boats, Launch, Maritime Authorities, Norway Post, Norwegian Space Centre, Presumptions, Recognition Program, Russian Cargo, Seagoing Vessels, Shipping Traffic, Traffic Density, Traffic Systems, Vessel Traffic Services
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Saturday, May 1st, 2010
A new report from Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD) has estimated that there are nearly NOK 500 billion (USD 90 million) worth of untapped gas and oil resources off Northern Norwegian shores, but not everyone agrees on the maths.
The study from the NDP suggests that the amount of recoverable resources that exist on the continental shelf and the coastal declivity of Troms and Nordland counties is worth the equivalent of 202 million standard cubic metres of oil – around 1.3 billion barrels. This figure is significantly less than earlier estimates from the NPD which cited the amount of oil as 1.5 billion barrels.
However, the Statoil-led oil industry maintains that the true figure is closer to 2-3 billion barrels. Statoil director Hege Marie Norheim said there is no evidence compelling them to readjust estimates, but that in spite of the conflicting numbers, the development of the area was still a priority.
The NPD report acknowledged inconsistencies in the estimates, but stated that time will reduce the uncertainties as the exploration uncovers more reliable data. According to the Norway Post, the report is now being used by the Norwegian government to deliberate whether or not to move ahead with exploratory drilling.
Within the coalition government there is strong disagreement over the issue of exploration, with both the Socialist Left and Agrarian parties opposed to the move. Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg’s Labour Party said that it would wait until a major study of the potential consequences of gas and oil production in the vulnerable waters is completed before committing to a decision.
Tags: Coalition Government, Continental Shelf, Cubic Metres, Declivity, Exploratory Drilling, Jens Stoltenberg, Labour Party, Ndp, Norheim, Norway Post, Norwegian Government, Norwegian Petroleum Directorate, Npd, Offshore Oil, Oil Industry, Oil Production, Oil Resources, Recoverable Resources, Statoil, True Figure
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Wednesday, April 14th, 2010
Last week’s signing of a new nuclear arms treaty governing nuclear armsbetween Russia and the USA has been welcomed by the Norwegian government.
The new agreement between Russia and the United States was signed in Prague by respective Presidents Dmitry Medvedev and Barack Obama.
“The signing of a new nuclear arms treaty between the USA and Russia is an important step on the road towards a world without nuclear arms,” said the Norwegian Prime Minister, Jens Stoltenberg.
The leaders of the two nations finally signed-off on the New Start Treaty, which represents the first real move towards disarmament across Russia and the USA for almost 19 years.
”It is gratifying that the USA and Russia have agreed to reduce the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads. I see this treaty as the initiation of a broader disarmament process which will include all types of nuclear arms, and which in the end will lead to a world without atomic weapons,” said Stoltenberg.
The Norwegian Prime Minister also claimed that the treaty was an important signal ahead of the next Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) review conference, as reported in The Norway Post.
Next week, Prime Minister Stoltenberg will participate in the Washington-based Global Nuclear Summit, where the focus will be on the prevention of nuclear terrorism and nuclear security.
Tags: 19 Years, Atomic Weapons, Barack Obama, Disarmament, Initiation, Jens Stoltenberg, Medvedev, Move Towards, Non Proliferation Treaty, Norway Post, Norwegian Government, Norwegian Prime Minister, Nuclear Arms, Nuclear Security, Nuclear Summit, Nuclear Terrorism, Nuclear Warheads, Prague, Presidents, Russia And The United States
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Friday, April 9th, 2010
Norwegian-based Statoil has announced a new agreement with US energy giant Chesapeake that will see the addition of 59,000 acres to the existing 600,000 acre position in the Pennsylvanian Marcellus Shale.
The deal is costing Statoil an estimated NOK 1.5 billion (USD 253 million) with an average cost per acre of NOK 25,000 (USD 4,235), reports Norway Post.
As part of the 2008 joint venture agreement that Statoil signed with Chesapeake, the Norwegian energy expert is allowed to periodically acquire new shares of the Chesapeake leasehold in the Marcellus Shale area.
Since it entered the Marcellus Shale arena in 2008, Statoil has delivered encouraging production performance results, with the new acreage expected to solidify its position in one of the largest shale gas operations in the United States.
The new acreage acquisition will also allow the Chesapeake partnership to optimise its activities and development, with continued growth forecast in the Marcellus region under the collaboration.
“We were an early mover into the Marcellus and we will continue to build a long term position in what we expect will become a legacy asset and reach our goal of 50,000 BOEPD (Barrels of Oil Equivalent Per Day) production by 2012,” said Vice President for the Marcellus Asset, Andy Winkle.
Tags: Acquisition, Acreage, Chesapeake, Collaboration, Energy Expert, Energy Giant, Gas Operations, Joint Venture Agreement, Leasehold, Marcellus Shale, Norway Post, Norwegian Energy, Oil Equivalent, Pennsylvanian, Performance Results, Production Performance, Shale Gas, Statoil, Term Position, Usd 253
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Sunday, April 4th, 2010
US energy giant General Electric (GE) has promised to pump money into Norway’s wind power industry, in a move that will create 100 new jobs. GE will be investing NOK 600 million (USD 100 million) into expanding its Norwegian wind power activity, sparking claims that Norway will play a pivotal role in the American company’s offshore strategy.
According to the Norway Post, GE will establish a new Oslo-based Offshore Technology Development Centre to compliment its turbine demonstration units in Verdal, which are also set to see an expansion in production.
“GE’s announcement is very good news for Norway,” said Minister of Petroleum and Energy Terje Riis-Johansen. “GE’s decision illustrates that we are an attractive country for investments with world-class offshore competence. I am pleased that Norway is a country where the industry and authorities can work together in developing the Norwegian wind industry.” Trond Giske, the Norwegian Minister of Trade and Industry, also welcomed the announcement. He said, “Offshore wind is a market which is set to grow substantially over the coming years, and this opens up new possibilities for Norwegian industries. Norway has a know-how base which is unique within the offshore and maritime sectors and this competence has considerable relevance for the development within offshore wind. We welcome GE’s decision to invest in Norway, and I believe this will strengthen Norwegian industries in the competition for contracts internationally.”
Tags: 100 Million, Attractive Country, Demonstration Units, Energy Giant, General Electric, New Jobs, Norway Post, Norwegian Minister, Norwegian Wind, Offshore Technology, Offshore Wind, Pivotal Role, Power Expansion, Riis, Technology Development Centre, Terje, Trond Giske, Verdal, Wind Industry, Wind Power Industry
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Wednesday, March 31st, 2010
The Norwegian Central Bank announced last week that it would not be making any changes to the key policy rate. The Executive Board agreed to maintain the 1.75 percent level that was approved at a previous meeting in December last year.
“We decided to keep the interest rate unchanged at today’s meeting,” said the bank’s deputy governor Jan F Qvigstad. “Inflation and the level of activity may for a period be somewhat lower than anticipated. The analyses presented today indicate that the key policy rate should be raised gradually, but somewhat later than expected in autumn,” he added..
Qvigstad also stated that the Central Bank’s regional branches had indicated that output is rising gradually but, with some Norwegian industries still in decline, not at a pace to warrant any rate increases.
The Central Bank’s confirmation that the Asian market has shown strong growth was tempered by reports of the more moderate upswing across Europe.Interest rate expectations for the bank have declined abroad in recent months according to the Norway Post, with the comparative interest rates with other countries widening since autumn. This has brought unanticipated strength and stability to the Norwegian krone.
The bank believes that the strengthened currency, coupled with lower wage growth prospects, will exert further downward pressure on inflation in the future.
The Norwegian Central Bank Executive Board has declared that its strategy, barring any major economic shocks, will be to maintain the key policy rate within a 1.5-2.5 percent interval until June 23, when the country’s next Monetary Policy Report will be published.
Tags: Asian Market, Autumn, Bank Executive, Comparative Interest, Confirmation, Decline, Deputy Governor, Downward Pressure, Economic Shocks, Growth Prospects, Inflation, Interest Rate Expectations, Interest Rates, Interval, June 23, Monetary Policy Report, Norway Post, Norwegian Krone, Regional Branches, Upswing
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Friday, March 26th, 2010
The Norwegian National Security Service (PST) has declared that some 19 countries have intelligence officers located across the country, with not all being there under true honest pretences.
PST claims that the majority of international intelligence officers are in the Norway to act as a liaison between the Nordic nation and their home countries to address the areas of international terrorism and weapons of mass destruction proliferation.
The Norway Post reports that PST does acknowledge that there are some intelligence officers stationed in Norway under false pretence, nominally in the guise of journalists, executives or diplomats. Such officers are usually stationed to deliberately to mislead others, recruit, garner information, exert influence or even undermine and sabotage internal activities for the advantage of a foreign state at Norway’s expense.
According to PST, there are several factors that make Norway an interesting base for overseas intelligence officers. The country has deep international political and, military and international involvement, has an advanced technological service and manages large natural resources. These all attract foreign intelligence interest, which was assessed by Norway as being at a high level over the past twelve months. Norwegian interests abroad have also faced increased exposure during 2009 claims PST.
Tags: Diplomats, False Pretence, Guise, Home Countries, Intelligence Officers, International Intelligence, International Involvement, International Terrorism, Journalists, Liaison, National Security, Natural Resources, Nordic Nation, Norway Post, Norwegian Interests, Proliferation, Security Service, Several Factors, Twelve Months, Weapons Of Mass Destruction
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Wednesday, March 24th, 2010
In an isolated mountainside deep within the Norwegian tundra lies a contingency plan against the threat of global catastrophe. The so-called “doomsday vault” is a massive seed bank that, in the event of disaster, could be used to replenish and re-grow the world’s plants.
This latter day Noah’s Ark of seed specimens sits deep within the Plataberget (Plateau Mountain) close to the Svalbard village of Longyearbyen, a group of islands of the northern coast, where the seeds are preserved by natural arctic permafrost. Norway Post reports that these seeds will be used to replenish global stocks in the wake of any large-scale crisis.
The Global Crop Diversity Trust which administers the seed vault this week added new species of Russian volcanic strawberry, pink tomatoes from Germany and mould-resistant beans. The latest additions bring the Svalbard “doomsday” vault numbers to over half a million seed varieties.
“The region on Svalbard surrounding the Seed Vault is remote, severe, and inhabited by polar bears,” says the group that supports the vault operation, the Global Crop Diversity Trust. “Anyone seeking access to the seeds themselves will have to pass through four locked doors: the heavy steel entrance doors, a second door approximately 115 metres down the tunnel and finally the two keyed air-locked doors,” writes the Trust. “Keys are coded to allow access to different levels of the facility. Not all keys unlock all doors”.
While war destroyed other seed banks in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Svalbard vault is built to survive earthquakes and nuclear strikes.
Tags: Arctic Permafrost, Crop Diversity, Doomsday Vault, Global Catastrophe, Global Crop, Global Stocks, Half A Million, Heavy Steel, Latest Additions, Locked Doors, Noah S Ark, Norway Post, Nuclear Strikes, Pink Tomatoes, Plateau Mountain, Polar Bears, Seed Bank, Seed Banks, Seed Varieties, Steel Entrance Doors
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Saturday, March 13th, 2010
The Government Pension Fund Global, or National Oil Fund, recorded a record annual return for 2009 according to a new report by the Norwegian Central Bank.
A return of 25.6 percent was achieved by the fund, roughly equivalent to NOK 613 billion (USD 103 billion). This represents a 4.1 percentage point increase than benchmark portfolio return.
The Norway Post reports that analysts have determined that the Government Pension Fund Global has outperformed the market itself and that the massive losses seen during the worst of the global economic crisis in 2008 have begun to be recouped.
“Developments in 2009 must, in the same way as 2008, to a large extent be viewed in light of the financial crisis. The fund’s long-term management strategy ensured that we got through this period in a good way,” said CEO of Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM), Yngve Slyngstad.
Compared with the Ministry of Finance-established benchmark portfolio, the National Oil Fund’s fixed income portfolio recorded an increase in 2009 of 7.4 percentage points, a significant turnaround from the -6.6 percentage point fall seen in 2008. The overall excess return for the fund of 4.1 percentage points was a marked improvement from the previous year’s figure of -3.4 percentage points.
“The values have come back much sooner than we could have expected. The parts of the fixed income markets that stopped working during the financial crisis gradually returned to more normal conditions. This contributed a lot to the strong excess return,” claimed Slyngstad.
Tags: Benchmark Portfolio, Excess Return, Fixed Income Markets, Fixed Income Portfolio, Global Economic Crisis, Government Pension, Long Term Management, Massive Losses, Ministry Of Finance, National Oil, Nbim, Norges Bank Investment Management, Norway Post, Pension Fund, Percentage Point Increase, Percentage Points, Portfolio Return, Previous Year, Term Management Strategy, Yngve
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Thursday, March 11th, 2010
The Norwegian-owned UBT Ocean oil-product tanker, along with its 21-member crew, has been captured by Somali pirates in the waters of the Indian Ocean. The incident took place late last week, and to date the vessel is still believed to be sailing towards Somali waters.
The UBT Ocean sails under the flag of the Marshall Islands, but is owned by Broevigtank in Norway. At the time of its capture, the vessel, whose crew are all of Burmese origin, was transporting oil to Tanzania from the United Arab Emirates. The boarding of the ship took place off the East African coast outside of the Seychelles archipelago, near Madagascar. According to Broevigtank the UBT Ocean had been sailing a course well to the south of the area where Somali pirates are known to operate. Greater naval patrols around the Gulf of Aden are believed to be forcing Somali pirates further south.
Norway Post reveals that no reports have been received of any injury or harm to the crew, and the pirates have not made any ransom claims as yet. Managing Director and CEO of Broevigtank, Svenn Pedersen confirmed that the hijacking took place around 300 miles (500km) from the ship’s intended destination. “The captain made contact saying pirates were on board and then the contact was cut off. Nothing has been heard from the ship since then,” said Pedersen.
Edward Ion, a spokesperson for the 9,000 tonne ship’s technical manager, Singapore-based Ship Management Associates, said attempts to re-establish contact with the UBT Ocean have been unsuccessful.
Tags: Burmese, Gulf Of Aden, Hijacking, Management Associates, Manager Singapore, Marshall Islands, Member Crew, Norway Post, Oil Product, Pedersen, Product Tanker, Ransom, Sails, Seychelles Archipelago, Ship Management, Somali Pirates, Somali Waters, South Norway, Spokesperson, United Arab Emirates
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Friday, March 5th, 2010
Norway, along with fellow NATO members Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, have joined together to call on the Western-based defence alliance to increase support for achieving a world that is nuclear-weapon-free.
“Our aim is to reduce the importance of nuclear weapons in NATO’s security policy,” said Jonas Gahr Store, the Norwegian Foreign Minister. The foreign ministers of the respective countries have jointly presented the NATO Secretary General with a letter that advocates comprehensive and robust discussions of the alliance’s nuclear policy at the next foreign minister meeting, scheduled for April in Tallinn.
“The views expressed in this joint letter correspond closely to those set out in the Norwegian Government’s disarmament strategy. I am pleased that Norway has such good partners to work with in our efforts to promote disarmament,” stated Mr Store.
Norway Post reports that the collaborative letter is regarded as an important step in the new Strategic Concept process by NATO. Norway has expressed its hope that a review of the concept will provoke a reduction in both the number and significance of nuclear weapons in NATO’s security policy.
“Disarmament and non-proliferation are important security policy tools for reducing the risk of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and to ensure a more peaceful and stable world,” said the Foreign Minister.
Tags: Aim, Disarmament Initiative, Foreign Minister, Foreign Ministers, Important Security, Nato, Nato Members, Nato Secretary General, Non Proliferation, Norway Post, Norwegian Government, Nuclear Disarmament, Nuclear Policy, Nuclear Weapon, Nuclear Weapons, Policy Tools, Proliferation Of Weapons Of Mass Destruction, Security Policy, Stable World, Weapons Of Mass Destruction
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Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010
The Norwegian Supreme Court has decided in favour of shipping companies in the raging taxation dispute, after ruling that retroactive tax payments imposed over a decade were in breach of the country’s constitution.
In 2007 the retrospective taxes were ordered to be paid by ship owners from 1996 to 2006 following changes to the taxation scheme in Norway. The latest decision will see ship owners reimbursed a total of NOK 21 million (USD 183 million) that had previously been ordered by the then-Finance Minister.
The Supreme Court ruled that the transitional rules implemented by the Storting in 2007 were a contravention of section 97 in the constitution which seeks to limit the potential of retrospective legislation.
Norway Post reports that the Norwegian Ship Owners’ Association managing director Sturla Henriksen was delighted at the court’s decision. “We are relieved to hear the decision of the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has today confirmed the protection of the Constitution against retrospective legislation. It is a decision of principle of great significance for the protection afforded to us all by the law. This judgement will help to re-establish confidence in Norway as an attractive and stable country for business to invest in,” said Henriksen. “We share the Government’s ambition to promote Norway as an attractive maritime host country. This judgement makes a positive contribution to the work of increasing maritime value creation in Norway.”
After gas and oil, the maritime industry is the largest in Norway, offering significant potential for future development and wealth generation.
Tags: Ambition, Contravention, Finance Minister, Future Development, Henriksen, Host Country, Judgement, Maritime Industry, Norway Post, Norwegian Ship, Retrospective Legislation, Ship Owners Association, Shipping Companies, Stable Country, Storting, Sturla, Tax Payments, Transitional Rules, Value Creation, Wealth Generation
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Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010
Acting on the recommendation of the Government Pension Fund Global (GPFG), the Norwegian Ministry of Finance has announced that seventeen tobacco producing companies will be excluded from the funding scheme, with share divestment in the companies having already been completed.
“When the Graver Committee proposed the current ethical guidelines, there was debate on whether to exclude tobacco producers from the Fund. With some hesitation, it was decided that tobacco should not be excluded. After the Graver Committee submitted its recommendation, there have been international and national developments through the entry into force of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and the tightening of the Norwegian Tobacco Act,” explained Sigbjorn Johnsen, the Minister of Finance in a Norway Post report.
“We have taken these changes on board and believe – amongst others in light of the consultative input in connection with the evaluation of the ethical guidelines – that it is timely to exclude tobacco from the Fund. It is important that the ethical guidelines reflect at all times what can be considered to be commonly held values of the owners of the Fund,” Johnsen added.
The decision to exclude tobacco producers from the Fund came after a GPFG Management report to the Norwegian Storting which was supported by the parliament for implementation in the 2010 budget.
The Ministry of Finance, in determining the new screening criteria for tobacco producers, emphasised that the move was part of a greater delimitation of companies which fail to meet current ethical guidelines.
Accordingly, the new regulations will see all tobacco producers excluded from funding irrespective of the percentage of tobacco related business held by operators, meaning several companies presently not classified as producers under public indexes will also be barred.
Tags: Delimitation, Divestment, Ethical Guidelines, Framework Convention, Government Pension, Hesitation, Management Report, Minister Of Finance, Ministry Of Finance, National Developments, Norway Post, Norwegian Ministry, Pension Fund, Pension Funds, Screening Criteria, Storting, Tobacco Act, Tobacco Companies, Tobacco Control, Tobacco Producers
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Thursday, January 21st, 2010
Eighty-six percent of Norwegians believe that their country is almost the perfect place to live, although public services still seem to show room for improvement.
The Citizen Survey of Norway measured the satisfaction of the country’s citizens with governmental, regional and municipal services. Among the conclusions gleaned were that higher learning institutions, public libraries and Vinmonopolet – the state owned liquor store chain – were all held in high esteem. At the opposite end of the satisfaction survey were the Norwegian Railway, municipal planning and building offices and the Welfare and Labour Administration NAV.
Norway Post reports that overall, 94 percent of those polled said that they were either very satisfied or satisfied with life in Norway. 89 percent of citizens claimed that they were satisfied with living in their municipality while some 70 percent expressed satisfaction with local and government services. Dissatisfaction was claimed by less than 10 percent.
“I am happy to know that our citizens are so satisfied with municipal as well as government services. This shows that public service providers on the whole are doing a good job in securing quality and user orientation in their services. At the same time, the survey makes it clear that several sectors and enterprises have a potential for improvement,” said Rigmor Aasrud, the Minister of Government Administration, Reform and Church Affairs.
While most Norwegians feel that on the whole people are treated with respect by legally conscious public services; there remains a significant percentage who still believe that the public sector is mired in bureaucracy and is wasting resources.
Tags: Bureaucracy, Church Affairs, Citizen Survey, Dissatisfaction, Eighty Six, Good Job, Government Administration, Government Services, Higher Learning Institutions, Labour Administration, Liquor Store, Municipality, National Citizen, Norway Post, Norwegian Railway, Norwegians, Public Libraries, Public Sector, Public Service Providers, Satisfaction Survey
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Thursday, January 21st, 2010
Eighty-six percent of Norwegians believe that their country is almost the perfect place to live, although public services still seem to show room for improvement.
The Citizen Survey of Norway measured the satisfaction of the country’s citizens with governmental, regional and municipal services. Among the conclusions gleaned were that higher learning institutions, public libraries and Vinmonopolet – the state owned liquor store chain – were all held in high esteem. At the opposite end of the satisfaction survey were the Norwegian Railway, municipal planning and building offices and the Welfare and Labour Administration NAV.
Norway Post reports that overall, 94 percent of those polled said that they were either very satisfied or satisfied with life in Norway. 89 percent of citizens claimed that they were satisfied with living in their municipality while some 70 percent expressed satisfaction with local and government services. Dissatisfaction was claimed by less than 10 percent.
“I am happy to know that our citizens are so satisfied with municipal as well as government services. This shows that public service providers on the whole are doing a good job in securing quality and user orientation in their services. At the same time, the survey makes it clear that several sectors and enterprises have a potential for improvement,” said Rigmor Aasrud, the Minister of Government Administration, Reform and Church Affairs.
While most Norwegians feel that on the whole people are treated with respect by legally conscious public services; there remains a significant percentage who still believe that the public sector is mired in bureaucracy and is wasting resources.
Tags: Bureaucracy, Church Affairs, Citizen Survey, Dissatisfaction, Eighty Six, Good Job, Government Administration, Government Services, Higher Learning Institutions, Labour Administration, Liquor Store, Municipality, National Citizen, Norway Post, Norwegian Railway, Norwegians, Public Libraries, Public Sector, Public Service Providers, Satisfaction Survey
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Wednesday, January 6th, 2010
The chemical tanker Pramoni, which was seized on 1st January by Somali pirates, has been revealed to be owned by a Norwegian shipping group.
The Pramoni is leased to an Indonesian company and was flying a Singaporean flag at the time of the hijacking, reports the Norway Post.
In the first Somali pirate attack of 2010 the Pramoni was captured while bound for India in the Gulf of Aden. The ship is owned by the Oslo-based Platou Finance group. On board the 20,000 tonne tanker at the time of the hijacking were a crew of 24, made up of mainly Indonesian nationals but also consisting of five Chinese, one Vietnamese and one Nigerian.
In Indonesia, the Jakarta Globe reported that talks are underway with overseas ministries in an effort to secure the release of the sailors.
“We have all the information from our embassy in Singapore and we have managed to track down the data of those who are on board,” said Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah. “We are establishing contacts with informal groups in Somalia and we have seen some indication that the ship’s owner is willing to negotiate, but this is very preliminary.”
Teuku confirmed that officials in Nairobi had been asked to gather all information possible on the Pramoni which was sailing from Africa at the time of the incident. Also on New Year’s Day was a separate hijacking of the British vessel Asian Glory in the Somali basin.
Tags: British Vessel, Chemical Tanker, Embassy In Singapore, Finance Group, Foreign Affairs Ministry, Gulf Of Aden, Hijacking, Indonesian Company, Indonesian Nationals, Informal Groups, Jakarta, Ministry Spokesman, Nairobi, Norway Post, Norwegian Shipping, Pirate Attack, Sailors, Shipping Group, Somali Basin, Somali Pirates
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Sunday, January 3rd, 2010
The Christmas period has seen troops from Norway involved in several battles across northern Afghanistan, with the Maimana Norwegian field hospital admitting injured Afghan fighters as the insurgency continues. The Norway Post reports that despite the skirmishes, no Norwegian troops have been seriously injured.
In the first of the attacks, which took place on 22nd December, a small arms-and-grenade attack on a Norwegian Military Observer Team (MOT) in western Faryab led to NATO being called on to provide assistance from the air. The following day, an MOT patrol vehicle was damaged during a similar attack while two further patrols from the Maimana base camp also were fired upon.
Norwegian training officers, on patrol with an Afghan police and army unit then came under fire on Christmas Eve, west of the Maimana camp with government troops sustaining several injuries. On Christmas Day a mission with drone and helicopter support was deployed to an under siege Afghan border post by Norwegian and Afghan troops with two members of the local border police evacuated.
Earlier this month it was announced that Norwegian forces, which number around 500 in Afghanistan, were involved in fighting every third day on average. The fighting is centred on the Faryab province, where Norway leads the Provincial Reconstruction Team in what is generally considered one of the quieter regions in post-Taliban Afghanistan.
“The frequent clashes are due to the fact that the Afghan military now feel they are making progress. For this reason they more often attack insurgents, and the Norwegians who act as instructors and support, accompany them,” said head of the Norwegian contingent Colonel Kurt Arne Gimre.
Tags: Afghan Fighters, Army Unit, Border Police, Border Post, Christmas Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Period, Colonel Kurt, Faryab Province, Frequent Clashes, Government Troops, Grenade Attack, Helicopter Support, Military Observer, Northern Afghanistan, Norway Post, Norwegians, Observer Team, Provincial Reconstruction Team, Taliban Afghanistan
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Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009
The recovery of the sunken German World War II submarine the U-864, which holds a potentially dangerous cargo of some 65 tonnes of mercury, has been placed on hold after the group charged with its salvage seems likely to be prevented from doing so under its present contract.
The wreckage, which lies near Fedge on the western Norwegian coastline near Bergen, has seen the estimated cost of recovery balloon to somewhere between NOK 1.2 billion and 2.2 billion – double the cost of original forecasts. The submarine has been the subject of ongoing debate amongst salvagers, politicians, local inhabitants and environmental welfare groups who have labelled the wreck as hazardous.
The issue as to whether to bring the wreck to the surface or instead cocoon the vessel in a virtual sarcophagus in order to eliminate the risk of pollution has long been debated by experts involved in the drama, says Norway Post.
The issue appeared settled earlier this year, when the Norwegian government decided in January on raising the wreckage. The initial NOK 800 million contract was awarded to a Dutch salvage company.
However, a new report by the Norwegian Institute of Transport Economics and the Norwegian project management organisation the Dovre Group criticises the Dutch salvage group Mammoet and claims a lack of clarity in several areas. The new report further states that going ahead with the operation under the current contract is not advisable, recommending instead that new tenders for the submarine salvage should be called for.
Tags: Cocoon, Dangerous Cargo, Environmental Welfare, German World War, Inhabitants, Mammoet, Management Organisation, Norway Post, Norwegian Coastline, Norwegian Government, Norwegian Institute, Norwegian Project, Salvage, Salvage Company, Sarcophagus, Transport Economics, U 864, Welfare Groups, World War Ii, Wreckage
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