Norway cuts 550 asylum places as summer arrivals drop
The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) is reducing its total asylum reception capacity by cutting 550 places across 22 existing centres, according to Nettavisen.
This decision follows lower-than-expected arrivals of asylum seekers in Norway this summer. UDI also attributes the reduced demand to local municipalities efficiently resettling individuals who have already been granted residency, freeing up space in the state system.
“By reducing the number of places in existing asylum reception centres, we avoid closing down entire centres that we may need later if arrivals increase again,” said Per-Jan Brekke, team leader for press and public relations at UDI, to Nettavisen.
Norway's core inflation drops to 2.7 per cent
Norway's core inflation fell to 2.7 percent in June, as reported by Statistics Norway (SSB).
This is down from 3.4 percent in May and below the 3.3 percent predicted by analysts, according to E24. The decline was largely driven by aggressive retail promotions during the World Cup, which, for example, caused an 8.5 percent drop in electronics prices.
Despite these positive figures, economists urge caution and warn that Norges Bank's battle with inflation is far from over. Experts are waiting for July's data to be released ahead of the central bank's next interest rate meeting in August.
Norwegian vocabulary:
Kjerneinflasjonen - core inflation
Marius Borg Høiby transferred to home detention
Høiby, the son of Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit, has been transferred from Ila prison to home detention with an electronic ankle monitor at the royal estate of Skaugum.
The transfer took place on Tuesday after the prosecution withdrew its appeal against the Oslo District Court's ruling.
The Royal Palace confirmed that Høiby will reside in a house on the Crown Prince couple’s estate and expressed their intention to support him during this period.
Høiby, who has been in custody since February, was sentenced to four years in prison on June 15th for two counts of rape and other offences.
As part of his release conditions, Høiby accepted electronic monitoring and agreed to participate in a rehabilitation programme (RISK). He had previously requested to be closer to his mother, who was recently discharged from the hospital after a lung transplant.
READ MORE: Norway's crown princess discharged from hospital after lung transplant
'Caterpillar from hell' could soon spread to Norway
A highly toxic caterpillar, nicknamed the 'caterpillar from hell,' could soon reach Norway, a Norwegian researcher has warned.
The oak processionary moth caterpillar has caused significant disruption in Odense, Denmark, this summer, raising concerns in Sweden and warnings that Norway could be next.
Anders Endrestøl, a researcher at the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), said that the species is likely to expand northwards and could arrive as early as next year through imported oak trees.
Norwegian tanker attacked off coast of Oman
A Norwegian tanker was hit by an explosion caused by an unidentified device off the Omani coast early Tuesday, a crisis response company said.
MTI Network said in a statement that shipping company Stolt Tankers reported that at approximately 00:40 am local time "its tanker vessel Stolt Magnesium while on passage in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Oman suffered an explosion of an unidentified external device".
The explosion triggered a fire in the ship's engine room, but an MTI Network spokesman added that the crew "fortunately are all safe and accounted for".
The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency also stated that a tanker had reported "being hit by an unknown projectile on the starboard side engine room" 40 nautical miles northeast of Qalhat, Oman.
The strikes came after the United States launched a fresh salvo of strikes against Tehran, marking a new escalation in the resumption of hostilities in the Middle East war.
Oil industry maintenance workers call off strike
A Norwegian union representing offshore oil workers and an employers' organisation on Tuesday agreed to take their dispute to an arbitration board, ending a costly month-long strike, as reported by AFP.
The Norwegian Union of Energy Workers (SAFE) launched the strike in mid-June after failing to reach a collective wage agreement with the industry group Offshore Norge.
Offshore Norge said last week the strike was costing 500 million kroner ($51.6 million) per week and had caused production losses of 2.4 million barrels of oil equivalent.
On Tuesday, the industry group said the parties had agreed to refer the dispute to a "voluntary wage board", meaning it would be resolved by an independent tribunal at a later date.
Read the article here.
Comments