Two Norwegian Journalists, Halvor Ekeland and Lokman Ghorbani, were held in custody for 32 hours and arrested after reporting on the 2021 Fifa World Cup. They were released on 23 November and arrived in Norway the following day. The Government Communications Office of the State of Qatar said the pair trespassed “on private property and…
Features
‘Janteloven’: the Norwegian norm that the UK helped me unlearn
In Norway, we have this law. Well, not really a law; it’s more of a societal norm. It’s called Janteloven or, in English, The Law of Jante. There are many ways to interpret it, but it generally refers to how you should put society ahead of your individual self, don’t boast about individual accomplishments, and…
Arts
Six works by Munch missing
Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet recently revealed that almost 50 paintings, sketches and graphic prints – six of them done by artist Edvard Munch (1863-1944) – are currently unaccounted for. The missing works by Munch include “Omega cries”, “Marat’s death”, “Crying young woman by the bed”, “Tiergarten-Berlin”, “Portrait of Mrs. R”. and the portrait “Åge Christian Gierløff”….
Comment
Norway needs your knitting needles!
Norway is by and large viewed as one of the most progressive countries in the world, but I’m ashamed to say we’ve been faltering lately. Our conservative Prime Minister Erna Solberg, the second female PM in Norwegian history, has proposed to amend the current abortion law. This political gambit would make it more difficult for women…
Arts
Book review: The Sixteen Trees of the Somme by Lars Mytting
It is uncommon for a book not originally written in English to become popular in the UK, but Norwegian journalist and author Lars Mytting achieved this rare feat when his book Norwegian Wood became a (surprising) hit among British readers. Mytting’s international success is an example of how books about apparently niche subjects can end…
Film
Review: 22 July
In a poem about the German occupation of Norway, Norwegian writer Nordahl Grieg states that: “We are so few in this country/Each fallen is friend and brother.” Both Grieg’s poetry and this mentality from the war-years resurfaced among the Norwegian people after July 22 2011, when 77 people were killed in coordinated terrorist attacks. Eight people died…
Features
Dealing with the “red tape”
If you look to the university world rankings, the UK dominates 40 percent of the top ten. It is therefore no surprise that we are the second biggest home of international students (beaten only by the USA) and that, for some, the news of competition brings concern. Whether jealousy, genuine economic worry, or good old…
Global
Global Roundup 360 – 26th April
Argentine music festival cancelled after multiple deaths on site Five people have died and five more remain in critical conditions in hospital after suspected drug overdoses at an Argentine festival. The Time Warp electronic music festival was being held for two days in the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires. Two people died at the event while…
Travel
Oslo: a northern delight
If you’re looking for somewhere friendly, lively and with lots of culture then perfectly sized Oslo has it all.
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