Today in Norway: A roundup of the latest news on Thursday
A notable decline in alcohol sales, the acquittal of British-Russian citizen Andrey Yakunin in a drone case and other news from Norway on Thursday.
Marked decline in alcohol sales
Around 7.1 million litres of alcohol were sold in Norway in the 3rd quarter of 2022. That is a decrease of 18.8 percent compared to the same period last year, figures from Statistics Norway (SSB) show.
The decline in alcohol sales in the third quarter of this year is significant for all types of alcohol, according to the alcohol sales figures from the SSB.
The Statistics Norway figures also show that each Norwegian drank an average of 1.59 litres of alcohol in the third quarter. In the same quarter last year, the figure was 1.97 litres.
British-Russian citizen acquitted in drone case
British-Russian citizen Andrey Yakunin has been acquitted in Nord-Troms and Senja district court of having flown a drone on Svalbard in August and September.
Yakunin admitted to flying a drone during a sailing trip this summer. The prosecution claimed that it was forbidden for Russian citizens to fly drones in Norway due to the sanctions act and brought charges against Yakunin.
In short, the court believes that that was too broad an interpretation of the sanctions regulations and that the European Union's (EU) sanctions against Russian air traffic, on which the Norwegian rules are based, are not intended to affect small hobby drones.
According to the news bureau NTB, Yakunin's lawyer John Christian Elden is satisfied with the verdict. He believes the verdicts in other drone cases must now be overturned.
NIPH chief warns of risk of weakened nuclear preparedness
On Wednesday, Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) director Camilla Stoltenberg warned that next year's budget cuts could come at the expense of both pandemic and nuclear preparedness.
The NIPH has to cut around 300 positions in line with the new budget that has been negotiated between the government and the Socialist Left Party (SV).
Stoltenberg warned that these cuts to lead to consequences for pandemic preparedness next year.
She also noted that other important tasks could be in danger of being de-prioritised.
Nobel Peace Prize winners arrive in Norway
The Nobel Peace Prize will be awarded on Saturday. The representatives of the winners will arrive in Norway on Thursday.
The three representatives of this year's Nobel Peace Prize winners include Oleksandra Matviytsyuk (representing the Center for Civil Liberties), Jan Raczynski (representing Memorial), and Natallia Pintsyuk (representing her husband, Ales Byalyatski).
They will hold a short press conference outside the VIP Gardermoen terminal.
NIPH issues report on influenza and corona
The NIPH will publish a report on influenza and Covid-19 numbers in Norway on Thursday.
Going forward, the report will be published every second Thursday until further notice.
New report on Norway's financial outlook
On Thursday, the Norwegian Financial Supervisory Authority will present the findings of its analyses and assessments of the stability of the country's financial system.
Comments
See Also
Marked decline in alcohol sales
Around 7.1 million litres of alcohol were sold in Norway in the 3rd quarter of 2022. That is a decrease of 18.8 percent compared to the same period last year, figures from Statistics Norway (SSB) show.
The decline in alcohol sales in the third quarter of this year is significant for all types of alcohol, according to the alcohol sales figures from the SSB.
The Statistics Norway figures also show that each Norwegian drank an average of 1.59 litres of alcohol in the third quarter. In the same quarter last year, the figure was 1.97 litres.
British-Russian citizen acquitted in drone case
British-Russian citizen Andrey Yakunin has been acquitted in Nord-Troms and Senja district court of having flown a drone on Svalbard in August and September.
Yakunin admitted to flying a drone during a sailing trip this summer. The prosecution claimed that it was forbidden for Russian citizens to fly drones in Norway due to the sanctions act and brought charges against Yakunin.
In short, the court believes that that was too broad an interpretation of the sanctions regulations and that the European Union's (EU) sanctions against Russian air traffic, on which the Norwegian rules are based, are not intended to affect small hobby drones.
According to the news bureau NTB, Yakunin's lawyer John Christian Elden is satisfied with the verdict. He believes the verdicts in other drone cases must now be overturned.
NIPH chief warns of risk of weakened nuclear preparedness
On Wednesday, Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) director Camilla Stoltenberg warned that next year's budget cuts could come at the expense of both pandemic and nuclear preparedness.
The NIPH has to cut around 300 positions in line with the new budget that has been negotiated between the government and the Socialist Left Party (SV).
Stoltenberg warned that these cuts to lead to consequences for pandemic preparedness next year.
She also noted that other important tasks could be in danger of being de-prioritised.
Nobel Peace Prize winners arrive in Norway
The Nobel Peace Prize will be awarded on Saturday. The representatives of the winners will arrive in Norway on Thursday.
The three representatives of this year's Nobel Peace Prize winners include Oleksandra Matviytsyuk (representing the Center for Civil Liberties), Jan Raczynski (representing Memorial), and Natallia Pintsyuk (representing her husband, Ales Byalyatski).
They will hold a short press conference outside the VIP Gardermoen terminal.
NIPH issues report on influenza and corona
The NIPH will publish a report on influenza and Covid-19 numbers in Norway on Thursday.
Going forward, the report will be published every second Thursday until further notice.
New report on Norway's financial outlook
On Thursday, the Norwegian Financial Supervisory Authority will present the findings of its analyses and assessments of the stability of the country's financial system.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.