SHARE
COPY LINK
For members

TODAY IN NORWAY

Today in Norway: A roundup of the latest news on Friday 

Why food will be more expensive from today, a key strike deadline and a heavy rain warning for east Norway are among the main stories from Norway on Friday.

Pictured is Barcode in Oslo
Read about why food is becoming more expensive, a weather warning and a strike deadline in today's roundup. Pictured is Barcode in Oslo. Photo by Natalie Chapman on Unsplash

Food to be more expensive from today 

The price of food in Norway will be “noticeably” higher from today, with the annual shopping bill for families expected to rise by a few thousand kroner from July 1st. 

The reason is that July 1st is one of two days each year when supermarkets raise prices for many different food products. 

Food will become expensive for several reasons. Firstly, as part of the agricultural settlement this year, farmers are allowed to charge more for their grain, meat and dairy products, and fruit and vegetables. 

Suppliers to supermarkets have also raised their prices, and it has become more expensive for food to be imported to Norway. 

“There is no doubt that there will be price increases, noticeable price increases,” Bård Gultvedt, director of business policy and government contact in Norgesgruppen, which owns Kiwi and Meny, said. 

Oslo shooting: Police appeal for video evidence

Oslo police, which is investigating the shooting in Oslo that left two dead and 21 injured last weekend, has appealed for the public to submit more video evidence if it has any. 

So far, Oslo police have received more than 70 tips from the public. They have also asked that video recordings from CCTV and the like from before the attack be stored for eight weeks rather than the typical seven days. 

“We are now working primarily with what we call the video project,” police attorney Børge Enoksen said at a press conference. 

READ ALSO: Norwegian police to remain armed with advice to postpone Pride events dropped

Mediation deadline for potential SAS pilot strike 

The extended mediation deadline for SAS and pilots working for the airline to reach an agreement and avoid a strike is midnight, July 2nd. 

If the two parties cannot agree, nearly 900 pilots will go on strike, with 400 being in Norway. 

A strike would lead to many of SAS’s flights from Norway over the weekend being cancelled. Previously, VG has reported that a strike would ground around 140 flights. 

READ ALSO: What a potential SAS pilot strike means for travellers in Norway

Heavy rain warning

A yellow danger warning is in place for heavy rain in Eastern Norway on Friday. 

“Heavy rain showers are expected in the eastern region. There are large local variations in intensity and quantity, and the weather can change quickly. The location of the precipitation is uncertain. Locally, the precipitation is expected to pass 15 millimetres per hour,” meteorologists forecasted.

Rain is also expected in north Norway. 

“Heavy rain can cause locally difficult driving conditions due to surface water and danger of aquaplaning. Adjust the speed according to the conditions and have a safe and good trip,” the State Highways Authority tweeted. 

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.
For members

TODAY IN NORWAY

Today in Norway: A roundup of the latest news on Tuesday

Southern Norway braces for highest electricity prices of the year, Sbanken announces mortgage interest rate cut, and other news from Norway on Tuesday.

Today in Norway: A roundup of the latest news on Tuesday

Record electricity prices expected in southern Norway

Electricity consumers in southern Norway are set to face the highest prices of the year as rates soar on Tuesday.

Regions spanning from Sunnhordland to Buskerud are expected to experience the steepest spot prices recorded thus far in 2024, with rates surpassing 2 kroner/kWh as early as 7am.

The surge in electricity costs also marks a notable peak in eastern Norway, where prices last reached this level on January 16th, according to reports from the energy site Europower.

Sbanken cuts mortgage interest rates

Sbanken has announced a cut in its mortgage interest rates by 0.15 percentage points, effective Tuesday.

The adjustment comes amidst a series of significant developments for Sbanken. In the spring of 2021, news surfaced of DNB’s interest in acquiring Sbanken, a proposal that received approval from the Norwegian Competition Authority in March of the following year.

More recently, DNB – Norway’s largest bank – disclosed plans to phase out Sbanken’s online banking platform in favour of a dedicated app.

This transition has drawn mixed reactions from Sbanken’s customer base, prompting some to switch banks.

NAV urges employers to welcome Ukrainian job seekers

With a notable percentage of Norway’s unemployed workforce hailing from Ukraine, the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) is appealing to employers to open their doors to Ukrainian nationals and offer them opportunities for employment and integration.

Statistics reveal that seven percent of Norway’s 76,000 unemployed people are of Ukrainian origin.

 “It is crucial that as many Ukrainians as possible find employment. This fosters inclusion and integration within our society, enabling refugees to develop social understanding and language skills in Norway,” NAV director Hans Christian Holte told the Aftenposten newspaper.

Holte noted that, without employment opportunities, refugees may eventually become reliant on municipal social welfare programs, burdening local budgets.

Norwegian ‘sneaks in’ to Crown Prince Christian’s birthday

A young Norwegian with a record of identity theft and fraud managed to get into Denmark’s Crown Prince (then Prince) Christian’s 18th birthday in October last year, Norway’s Dagbladet newspaper reported.

The man is reported to have gained access under the pretence of being a journalist. According to the report, he has been arrested several times in Norway.

He can be seen in several photos of Crown Prince Christian’s birthday published by Danish media. He also took a photo of himself inside Christiansborg Palace, where the event was held. That photo was included in Dagbladet’s report.

Danish police intelligence service PET told Dagbladet that it considered the birthday party to have taken place “safely and securely”.

SHOW COMMENTS