Today in Norway: A roundup of the latest news on Tuesday
Norway seeks to curb monthly toll charges, cyber-attack targets Norwegian companies, and other news making the headlines on Tuesday.
Norwegian government looking into curbing monthly toll fees
Norway's Transport Minister Jon-Ivar Nygård (Labour Party) is taking steps to rein in the growing use of monthly fees by chip companies for toll tags.
There are more than 300 toll stations in Norway where charges are levied for travelling on certain roads and bridges and through tunnels.
In the past, motorists paid a fixed deposit for an AutoPASS chip, but some companies have shifted to a monthly fee structure.
Minister Nygård wants to restrict this practice.
In a Monday press release, he stated, "We want to limit the scheme with such monthly fees for payment chips."
To achieve this goal, he has called upon the Norwegian Public Roads Administration to propose changes that would restrict the ability to impose monthly fees for issuing or replacing automatic toll tags.
All levies are charged automatically via the AutoPASS system, which the Norwegian Public Roads Administration operates.
To pay with AutoPASS, you must order a payment tag from one of several providers.
New cyber attack
Norway has been targeted by yet another significant cyber-attack, according to reports from the National Security Authority (NSM).
Several Norwegian businesses have fallen victim to this digital attack.
Sofie Nystrøm of NSM expressed the gravity of the situation, stating, "We are currently facing a very serious situation in relation to zero-day vulnerabilities." Zero-day vulnerabilities represent digital threats that are previously unknown and unaddressed.
In response, NSM is urging all companies using Cisco IOS XE to promptly update their systems.
This incident follows an earlier cyber-attack this summer, which targeted 12 Norwegian ministries.
Norwegians injured in Gaza Strip
The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reported that a number of Norwegians have been injured in the Gaza Strip. The exact number and severity of injuries have not been disclosed.
Guro Markussen Løvaas of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed deep concern for Norwegian citizens in the region.
She stated, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is very concerned about Norwegian citizens in the area."
Approximately 200 Norwegians are currently in the Gaza Strip, with around 100 of them being children. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is closely monitoring the situation.
Norwegian ministry wants swift justice for young offenders in Oslo
The Ministry of Justice and Emergency Preparedness has launched a new initiative to accelerate the sentencing process for young offenders in Oslo.
This move comes in response to concerns about the delays in handling criminal cases involving youth.
Minister of Justice and Emergency Preparedness Emilie Mehl (Centre Party) stated, "Young people who commit crime must be met with a swift response. The long waiting time between the offence and the reaction can be a significant burden for both the victim and the next of kin. There is also a risk that young people will commit new offences, so there must be a quick reaction. Fast criminal proceedings will help prevent relapse and recruitment into criminal networks."
The Ministry has tasked various authorities, including the Court Administration, the Directorate of Police, the Directorate of Correctional Services, the Attorney General, and others, to investigate the feasibility of establishing a fast track for processing criminal cases, preferably within the Oslo District Court.
This investigation is expected to be completed by the end of the year. It will serve as the foundation for further actions by the Ministry to address the issue of delayed justice for young offenders.
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Norwegian government looking into curbing monthly toll fees
Norway's Transport Minister Jon-Ivar Nygård (Labour Party) is taking steps to rein in the growing use of monthly fees by chip companies for toll tags.
There are more than 300 toll stations in Norway where charges are levied for travelling on certain roads and bridges and through tunnels.
In the past, motorists paid a fixed deposit for an AutoPASS chip, but some companies have shifted to a monthly fee structure.
Minister Nygård wants to restrict this practice.
In a Monday press release, he stated, "We want to limit the scheme with such monthly fees for payment chips."
To achieve this goal, he has called upon the Norwegian Public Roads Administration to propose changes that would restrict the ability to impose monthly fees for issuing or replacing automatic toll tags.
All levies are charged automatically via the AutoPASS system, which the Norwegian Public Roads Administration operates.
To pay with AutoPASS, you must order a payment tag from one of several providers.
New cyber attack
Norway has been targeted by yet another significant cyber-attack, according to reports from the National Security Authority (NSM).
Several Norwegian businesses have fallen victim to this digital attack.
Sofie Nystrøm of NSM expressed the gravity of the situation, stating, "We are currently facing a very serious situation in relation to zero-day vulnerabilities." Zero-day vulnerabilities represent digital threats that are previously unknown and unaddressed.
In response, NSM is urging all companies using Cisco IOS XE to promptly update their systems.
This incident follows an earlier cyber-attack this summer, which targeted 12 Norwegian ministries.
Norwegians injured in Gaza Strip
The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reported that a number of Norwegians have been injured in the Gaza Strip. The exact number and severity of injuries have not been disclosed.
Guro Markussen Løvaas of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed deep concern for Norwegian citizens in the region.
She stated, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is very concerned about Norwegian citizens in the area."
Approximately 200 Norwegians are currently in the Gaza Strip, with around 100 of them being children. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is closely monitoring the situation.
Norwegian ministry wants swift justice for young offenders in Oslo
The Ministry of Justice and Emergency Preparedness has launched a new initiative to accelerate the sentencing process for young offenders in Oslo.
This move comes in response to concerns about the delays in handling criminal cases involving youth.
Minister of Justice and Emergency Preparedness Emilie Mehl (Centre Party) stated, "Young people who commit crime must be met with a swift response. The long waiting time between the offence and the reaction can be a significant burden for both the victim and the next of kin. There is also a risk that young people will commit new offences, so there must be a quick reaction. Fast criminal proceedings will help prevent relapse and recruitment into criminal networks."
The Ministry has tasked various authorities, including the Court Administration, the Directorate of Police, the Directorate of Correctional Services, the Attorney General, and others, to investigate the feasibility of establishing a fast track for processing criminal cases, preferably within the Oslo District Court.
This investigation is expected to be completed by the end of the year. It will serve as the foundation for further actions by the Ministry to address the issue of delayed justice for young offenders.
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