Norway

Only one film won more Golden Globe nominations this week than the popular and critically acclaimed Norwegian film Sentimental Value; its eight nominations set a record in Norway, and the film’s Norwegian star was thrilled.

A large trapping “facility” constructed with exceptionally well-preserved birch tree branches was found under melting ice at an altitude of 1.400 meters; piles of reindeer antlers and carved artifacts date back to around 520 AD, prior to the Viking age

Ine Eriksen Søreide, former Defense and Foreign Minister, is the new leader of Norway’s Conservative Party Høyre; she won support of all contenders and revived hopes for those who want Norway to join the European Union

A verbal assault on King Harald V, broadcast by his son-in-law Durek Verrett, has set off public uproar among Norwegians; calls for the king to strip Princess Martha Louise, of her royal title have come from monarchists and those favouring a republic

The Sami Parliament Sametinget in Northern Norway won’t go through any major leadership changes: Norske Samers Riksforbund remained its biggest party after last week’s election and leader Silje Karine Muotka will remain Sami president

78,9% of Norway's eligible voters had cast their ballots for Parliamentary election by the time polls closed at 9pm on 8 September, the highest voter turnout in 36 years, and confirmed leadership to Labour Party and PM Støre that overcome all the odds

34-year-old woman from Ethiopia who was working at a youth welfare institution in Oslo was murdered on the job by 18-year-old resident with history of right-wing extremism; he’s also been charged with terrorism as he said attack was politically motivated

Following ongoing reduction of sealife in the Oslo Fjord, extensive bans on fishing in three key areas will come into force from January 1. Critics and fishing firms claim farming, development and other sources of pollution should be addressed first

From 1 August highway authority will use a new EU directive that makes it easier the exchange of vehicle registration information across borders and be able to get addresses for owners of the foreign vehicles picked up by cameras along Norwegian roads

Increasing tourists arrivals have led to Parliament approving a new tourist tax starting next summer; local communities will benefit from it, financing the public facilities needed and reducing the tourism industry footprint on nature

High food prices, higher than ever, led to political debate these days: food price issues come up before national elections, but few things change mostly because of Norway’s own high tariffs on food imports, seldom under scrutiny