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TODAY IN NORWAY

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

More than 160 SAS flights from Norway cancelled, three oil fields closed due to a strike and the population set to shrink in rural parts of the country. This and other headlines from Norway on Tuesday. 

Pictured is a view of Oslo from the inner Oslo Fjord.
Read the latest on the SAS strike which could drag on according to experts. Pictured is a view of Oslo from the inner Oslo Fjord. Photo by Franz Wender on Unsplash

SAS strike unlikely to be short-lived

Unfortunately for travellers booked with the airline, the current SAS strike looks set to rumble on for a while as there are two large issues pilots’ unions and the company will need to find consensus on before strike action ends, newspaper VG reports. 

“There are no reassuring signs that it will be short-lived. They have been negotiating for several days, with several postponements, and yet they did not agree,” aircraft analyst Jacob Pedersen from Danish Sydbank told VG. 

Pilots employed by SAS’s parent company, SAS Scandinavia, announced strike action because they were unsatisfied with their salary and working conditions.

In addition, the pilots are dissatisfied that instead of re-employing old SAS pilots, priority is given to hiring new pilots on cheaper agreements in the two subsidiaries, SAS Link and SAS Connect.

READ MORE: What the SAS strike means for travellers in Norway

At least 163 flights out of Norway were cancelled due to the SAS strike

On Tuesday, 163 services from SAS out of Norway were cancelled due to a strike, according to an overview from newspaper VG.

Of the cancellations, 79 were overseas departures, while 84 were domestic flights. 

Yesterday 900 pilots in Norway, Sweden and Denmark went on strike after the company and unions failed to reach an agreement by the Monday midday deadline. 

The airline said that up to 30,000 passengers per day could be affected. 

READ MORE: What can SAS passengers do if their flight is affected by pilots’ strike?

Population in rural Norway to shrink by 2050

Most rural municipalities in Norway will begin to shrink in population by 2050, while the cities and suburbs will continue to grow. 

This is according to a projection by national statistics agency Statistics Norway. 

Norway’s population is expected to grow from 5.4 million to 6 million by 2050 and 6.2 million by 2100. 

“The growth in the population in the next decades will be unevenly distributed across the country. Viken county is expected to grow by 19 percent by 2050, while Nordland is expected to shrink by 2 percent,” Statistics Norway researcher Sturla Løkken said. 

Three oil fields to go on strike

Union Lederne has taken 74 members out on strike, which will lead to the shut down of the Gudrun, Oseberg sør and Oseberg Øst oil fields. 

More oil fields could close on Wednesday when 117 more workers at three other oil fields could go on strike. 

According to Norwegian Oil and Gas, 13 percent of gas exports abroad will be lost due to the strike. 

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TODAY IN NORWAY

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

Loneliness peaks during holidays in Norway, heavy snowfall expected in the north, and other news making the headlines in the country on Friday.

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

New survey: 1 in 5 Norwegians experience isolation during the holidays

Holidays are often portrayed as a time for joy and togetherness, but for many, they remind them of how lonely they are.

One in every five Norwegians experiences heightened loneliness during the holidays compared to the rest of the year, according to a recent survey conducted by Opinion on behalf of the Norwegian Red Cross.

As the Easter season approaches, six out of ten respondents reported spending most of their time at home during this period. While some choose this solitude willingly, for others, it’s not a matter of choice but rather a consequence of feeling excluded socially.

READ MORE: Easter in Norway: Everything you need to know

Red Cross President Siri Hatlen said, “Easter can be a quiet and painful time if you don’t feel included socially.”

Heavy snowfall expected in northern Norway

Yr, the Norwegian meteorological service, has issued a warning for heavy snowfall in northern regions, specifically Nordland and Troms og Finnmark.

In Troms og Finnmark, the risk persists due to strong winds causing snow drifts.

The affected area stretches from Vardø south-westwards beyond Kvænangsfjellet, with conditions expected to improve by Good Friday morning.

Drivers are cautioned to anticipate reduced visibility, challenging road conditions, and potential traffic delays and road closures due to bad weather.

Chinese tourists rescued amidst slippery winter conditions in Lofoten

A group of five Chinese tourists faced difficulties amidst slippery winter conditions while exploring the tourist hotspot Lofoten in northern Norway.

Ivar Bo Nilsen, from the police operations centre in Nordland, confirmed the incident to the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK), stating that the group was at Reinebringen.

One of the tourists slipped and was unable to move further due to fear of falling. Despite their efforts, the rest of the group couldn’t assist.

Rescue efforts were swiftly initiated, with a SAR Queen rescue helicopter dispatched from Bodø, along with ground-level volunteers. Around 10 pm, the police confirmed the successful rescue and transport of all tourists to Bodø.

Reinebringen, a popular mountain in Lofoten, often witnesses accidents during winter.

Police respond to violent incident in Bergen

In response to a report of a violent incident indoors, armed police and ambulance services were dispatched to an address in Fana, Bergen, on Thursday evening.

According to Stein Rune Halleraker, the police operations manager, upon arrival, they swiftly gained control of the situation without any dramatic events.

Two people sustained minor injuries, with one transported to the emergency department via ambulance and the other receiving on-site medical attention.

No arrests have been made yet, but interviews with involved parties have been scheduled.

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