Oslo is the least happy Scandinavian capital
Oslo has been ranked as a “golden city” by the British think tank Institute for Quality of Life. However, it ranks below the other Scandinavian capitals.
It ranked behind Copenhagen, which finished first, Stockholm in 7th place, Helsinki in 14th place, with Oslo in 23rd place.
Several other cities were featured on the list. Bergen came in 60th place, Trondheim in 94th place, and Ålesund and Arendal in 107th and 108th place.
Happiness researcher and professor of economics Christian Bjørnskov at Aarhus University in Denmark said the survey parameters were suited towards Scandinavian cities.
“In broad terms, the index measures certain areas where Scandinavia stands out on a global scale. We are rich, relatively healthy and green. If you look at half of the six parameters, we will be relatively high up no matter what,” he told Danish broadcaster TV 2.
Arctic regions and the High North increasingly important to Nato
Norwegian PM Jonas Gahr Støre said the Arctic has become increasingly important on Thursday after Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte’s visit.
“The entire development in the High North and the Arctic is moving in the direction of increased international interest and increased geopolitical interest,” Støre told reporters on Thursday.
He pointed to a recent agreement on a common approach between the seven Arctic states in Nato.
Minister of Defense Tore O. Sandvik also spoke to the press.
“In recent years, we have experienced greater attention to the High North. Because even though Putin is losing heavily on the battlefield in Ukraine, the Northern Fleet – the strategic submarines – is still intact. And the nuclear weapons are intact,” Sandvik said.
Norway’s new consent law likely to receive majority support
A proposed new law, which would aim to define rape on the basis of the lack of consent instead of the law’s current focus on violence, threats, or taking advantage of a vulnerable person, will receive support from the Conservative Party.
“I am pleased that the Conservative Party is securing a majority for a new consent law. One in five women reports having been raped, and the numbers are increasing. Rape, regardless of whether it affects women or men, is a major social problem,” Sandra Bruflot, the Conservative Party's women's policy spokesperson, told the Norwegian newspaper VG.
Several other parties have also thrown their support behind the new law.
Egg and meat prices to rise
High demand and a shortage of eggs mean that food producer Notura will raise the price of meat and eggs.
The producer has decided to increase the price of beef and eggs by 2 kroner per kilogram, lamb by 3 kroner and pork by 1.5 kroner.
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