Almost 2,000 fewer refugees expected in Norway next year
This marks the lowest expected number since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Since then, Norwegian municipalities have resettled over 110,000 refugees, most of whom came from Ukraine.
"There has been a marked decline in recent years, but from a historically high level. The number to be resettled next year is still significant in a Norwegian context," said Libe Rieber-Mohn, director of IMDi.
Minister of Labour and Social Inclusion Kjersti Stenseng also explained in a statement: "The Labour Party government has taken a number of steps to limit the number of displaced people coming to Norway. We are now seeing the results of that. We will not accept more than we can integrate, while continuing to stand up for Ukraine and ensure a safe stay for displaced people in Norway."
The ministry said that several municipalities are experiencing pressure on housing markets and local public services (such as schools, kindergartens, and health and care facilities) following several years of high settlement numbers. Authorities also pointed out that secondary migration is an issue, as refugees sometimes move away from the municipality where they first settled.
In response, officials are introducing tighter criteria for resettlement requests next year, which they say will help with integration and prevent segregation.
"The government has changed the criteria for requests to avoid settling refugees in areas with big challenges and to make it easier to find work quickly. Because of this, municipalities like Fredrikstad, Sarpsborg, and Halden will not be asked to settle refugees in 2027," Stenseng said.
Norwegian vocabulary: å bosette - to settle
Daily smoking habit falls in Norway, especially among Gen Z
In its latest survey on tobacco, alcohol, and substance use, Statistics Norway (SSB) reported that daily cigarette smoking has dropped to 6 percent, down from 7 percent last year. Meanwhile, daily use of snus, the small nicotine pouches, remains more than twice as common at 15 percent, reaching 22 percent among men.
"Over the past 10 years, there have been changes in the population's tobacco habits, and there are now more than twice as many daily users of snus compared to daily smokers," said Sindre Mikael Haugen, a senior adviser at Statistics Norway, in an accompanying article.
The agency also pointed out a clear generational divide in tobacco use as generation Z could be Norway’s first generation with very few daily smokers.
"To use a widely used generational division, one could say that Gen Z (1997–2012) is possibly the first generation without, and Millennials (1981–1996) the last generation with, a significant proportion of people who have smoked daily," Haugen said.
Interestingly, the figures also show that very few people both smoke and use snus every day. This suggests the two habits rarely happen together.
Norwegian vocabulary: å røyke - to smoke
King Haakon and Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra mark historic 'firsts' at Storting gala dinner
On Thursday evening, the Royal Palace in Oslo held one of Norway’s most prestigious and high-profile traditions (established in 1906): the annual parliamentary dinner (Stortingsmiddagen), where the monarch invites the 169 members of the Storting, cabinet ministers, and other senior state officials to the Palace.
The evening was a significant milestone for the royal family, as King Haakon hosted the gala for the first time as monarch, while Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra wore her first formal gala dress as Crown Princess.
The King’s speech is always a highlight, mixing thoughts about the nation with a personal touch. King Haakon started his speech by honouring his father, the late King Harald, in a very personal way: "So it's me standing here, not my father. I miss him tonight, and I'm sure I'm not alone. This was his arena. He was, as we know, funny—with apt comments and good timing. And not infrequently, dad jokes."
The King made the audience laugh when he talked about how long he had prepared for the role: "As you probably understand, it's not easy to become king overnight. Then having 35 years of experience as a middle manager in a medium-sized public enterprise comes in handy."
He also thanked Queen Mette-Marit for her support: "And it's important to have good people around you—and I'm lucky in that, because I have the Queen on my team. It gives me security and support."
Looking ahead, the King said: "I've had a fantastic coach in any case. Now it's just a matter of managing my energy well. This is a long-distance race, and I'm aiming for consistent speed and good endurance."
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Jens Elmelund Kjeldsen, a professor of rhetoric at the University of Bergen, told newspaper Aftenposten the speech was full of metaphors and called it "a factual defence of constitutional democracy."
If you are curious about what the monarch and politicians ate at such a prestigious national gala, public broadcaster NRK shared the details. Guests were served a four-course menu consisting of crab salad, cheese tart, moose from Sikkilsdalen (hunted by the late King Harald's hunting party), and traditional Norwegian cloudberries for dessert.
Norwegian vocabulary: Stortingsmiddagen - the parliamentary dinner
Practice grenade found in luggage at Tromsø Airport
Police were called to Tromsø Airport on Thursday afternoon after a grenade was discovered in checked baggage during a routine security screening.
Authorities later said there was no danger to the public as the item was a training grenade, not a real one.
"We need to be completely certain before handling it further, which is why our specialists are assessing it," police told public broadcaster NRK before the item was formally cleared.
The security alert caused some delays at the airport, but things soon returned to normal.
Norwegian vocabulary: granat - grenade
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