Society & Policy

«I welcome the news that the US has invited Israel and the Palestinians to resume direct talks,» said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. «Norway urges the parties to respond positively to the US invitation, and to seize this opportunity to make progress in the negotiations. This will put the peace process back on track.» Read more

Statement by State Secretary Ingrid Fiskaa on the flood disaster in Pakistan at the UN's 110th plenary meeting «Strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance of the United Nations». Read more

ISFiT -The International Student Festival in Trondheim, one of the world’s largest student festivals, is being held in Norway in February 2011. The theme for this year’s festival is global health. The application deadline is 30 September. Read more

Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg will 13 September host a high-level conference on the international situation in the labour market, where millions of people are unemployed as a result of the global economic crisis. Read more

1 August 2010 marks a triumph for international humanitarian efforts as the Convention on Cluster Munitions enters into force. Read more

“Norway is shocked that Israeli naval forces have shot and killed civilians while boarding a convoy carrying humanitarian supplies to Gaza. I condemn this use of military force against civilians,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Read more

More than 60 countries agreed to concrete measures to address armed violence in Geneva on 12 May. Read more

Although there are those who have warned that increased activity and unresolved boundaries in the Arctic would raise tensions, developments in that region are bearing witness to just the opposite. Read more

The world’s largest wind turbine is to be built in Norway. Innovative technology will make the production of renewable energy far more efficient. Read more

At 8:30 pm 27 March 2010 Norway will plunge into darkness, joining in the world’s largest visual climate change campaign. Read more

The people of Norway chose Anette Sagen, Norway’s top woman ski jumper, to inaugurate the new Holmenkollen ski jump facility. Read more

“American Steven Holl’s latest project is a breath of fresh architectural air set just above the Arctic Circle,” wrote the journal Wallpaper about the new Hamsun Centre. Read more

Jan Egeland was elected today to co-chair the High-level Taskforce for the Global Framework for Climate Services, an international taskforce that is to compile and make available climate information. Read more

Have you seen them madly sweeping the ice dressed in their clown pants? The Norwegian men’s curling team has attracted widespread attention at the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver thanks to its conspicuous attire. Read more

The UN-HABITAT Urban Youth Fund will this year provide one million dollars to projects led by young people aged 15-32 years who are piloting innovative approaches to employment, good governance, shelter and secure tenure. The UN-HABITAT is now calling for young people based in cities or towns from the developing world to apply for grants from the fund. The deadline for applications is April 15t... Read more

0n 16th of February, State Secretary Gry Larsen from the Ministry of Foreign affairs in Oslo officially opened the renovated Norwegian embassy in Cairo. Almost a year and half after the works started in 2008, the embassy building now presents itself as almost brand new. Read more

Norway has transferred NOK 240 million to the Palestinian Authority (PA), in accordance with its pledge made at the Paris Conference in December 2007. The funds have been provided to support implementation of the Palestinian Reform and Development Plan (PRDP). The support will enable the PA to maintain the services available to the Palestinian population in the areas of education, health and sa... Read more

At the Ice Music Festival in Geilo, the timing of the concerts is set by the moon and the music takes its resonance from the weather. Innovative use of nature’s own materials is front and centre at this one-of-a-kind music festival. Read more

Norway has much to offer tourists in the winter: snow, mountains, fjords and the unique culture of the Sámi people. We invited Audun Pettersen, one of the people most actively involved in Norway’s tourist industry, to tell us about some of the activities he would recommend. Read more

Norwegians like to think they are born with skis on their feet. But will their country’s illustrious history of polar expeditions and skiing innovations actually help Norwegian skiers to compete against the crème-de-la-crème at the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver? And will Norway be rewarded once again for fair play? Read more