Today in Norway: A roundup of the latest news on Friday
King Harald in hospital for observation, pilots to decide whether to accept the SAS agreement, the government promises more electricity support, plus other news from Norway on Friday.
King Harald in hospital for observation
Norway's king, King Harald, has been admitted to Oslo University Hospital for observation with a fever, the Royal Palace announced Thursday.
The palace described the king's condition as stable.
Last week, King Harald participated in the sailing World Cup, where his team finished 10th. His next engagement is a meeting with the cabinet at the castle on August 12th.
Last year, the 85-year-old had an operation on a damaged knee tendon and had previously had bladder cancer.
Pilots to decide whether to accept SAS offer
The pilot associations in Norway, Sweden and Denmark have opened the vote on the collective bargaining deal offered by airline SAS today.
The deadline to submit votes is midnight, and the result will be announced tomorrow. Pilots could strike again if the deal isn't given the green light. In July, pilots were on strike for 15 days.
The government promises more electricity support
Norway's government will increase and strengthen the electricity subsidy support scheme, Oil and Energy Minister Terje Aasland has said.
"We have worked intensively for a long period. People need to know that we are dealing with this. They must be confident that they have electricity and that they can afford to pay the bills," Aasland told Norwegian newswire NTB.
When the measures are announced isn't currently known, but Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has said that the government will present its plans in August.
Aasland said that the government has three main objectives when it comes to electricity support. First up was to maintain the security of the energy supply, improve the support scheme for households, and introduce support for businesses.
Strong decline in sea ice in Norway
Since May, there has been a substantial decline in sea ice around Svalbard and ice coverage is 62,000 square kilometres below normal.
This is the equivalent of the land area of Svalbard, or Møre og Romsdal, Vestland and Rogaland combined.
Researcher Signe Aaboe at the Meteorological Institute said the decline is probably due to this summer's heat, with climate change as a contributing factor, public broadcaster NRK reports.
The lack of ice coverage is particularly bad news for polar bears, which depend on ice-covered seas to survive. Over the last few decades, the amount of Sea Ice in the Arctic has gradually decreased due to global warming.
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King Harald in hospital for observation
Norway's king, King Harald, has been admitted to Oslo University Hospital for observation with a fever, the Royal Palace announced Thursday.
The palace described the king's condition as stable.
Last week, King Harald participated in the sailing World Cup, where his team finished 10th. His next engagement is a meeting with the cabinet at the castle on August 12th.
Last year, the 85-year-old had an operation on a damaged knee tendon and had previously had bladder cancer.
Pilots to decide whether to accept SAS offer
The pilot associations in Norway, Sweden and Denmark have opened the vote on the collective bargaining deal offered by airline SAS today.
The deadline to submit votes is midnight, and the result will be announced tomorrow. Pilots could strike again if the deal isn't given the green light. In July, pilots were on strike for 15 days.
The government promises more electricity support
Norway's government will increase and strengthen the electricity subsidy support scheme, Oil and Energy Minister Terje Aasland has said.
"We have worked intensively for a long period. People need to know that we are dealing with this. They must be confident that they have electricity and that they can afford to pay the bills," Aasland told Norwegian newswire NTB.
When the measures are announced isn't currently known, but Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has said that the government will present its plans in August.
Aasland said that the government has three main objectives when it comes to electricity support. First up was to maintain the security of the energy supply, improve the support scheme for households, and introduce support for businesses.
Strong decline in sea ice in Norway
Since May, there has been a substantial decline in sea ice around Svalbard and ice coverage is 62,000 square kilometres below normal.
This is the equivalent of the land area of Svalbard, or Møre og Romsdal, Vestland and Rogaland combined.
Researcher Signe Aaboe at the Meteorological Institute said the decline is probably due to this summer's heat, with climate change as a contributing factor, public broadcaster NRK reports.
The lack of ice coverage is particularly bad news for polar bears, which depend on ice-covered seas to survive. Over the last few decades, the amount of Sea Ice in the Arctic has gradually decreased due to global warming.
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