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TODAY IN NORWAY

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

Norway’s immigration authority dismisses over 1,000 cases where deception is suspected, interest rate cut likely to be delayed, and more news from Norway on Wednesday. 

Pictured is a view of downtown Oslo.
Find out what's going on in Norway on Wednesday with The Local's short roundup of important news. Pictured is a view of downtown Oslo. Photo by Eirik Skarstein on Unsplash

Norway’s UDI dismisses over 1,000 cases where deception is suspected 

More than 1,000 cases where the UDI suspected that asylum and immigration applicants had lied have been dropped by the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI), public broadcaster NRK reports. 

“We were in a situation where a large number of cases were created, but where our capacity was not in proportion to the amount of cases. This meant that we did not get a good enough grip on the matters that we believe are the most serious. At the same time, it led to a good number of these cases becoming very old,” director of the UDI Frode Forfang told NRK

The dismissal comes after the Ministry of Justice told the UDI to close old cases last year. The UDI has decided that cases older than three years will no longer be investigated.

Interest rate cut likely to be delayed 

Financial institution DNB Markets has said that the central bank will likely delay interest rate cuts until December. 

The first cut was projected to arrive in September. DNB Markets believe an increase in real wages and a weak krone have increased inflationary pressure. 

“As a result of stronger drive in the economy and a weak krone, Norges Bank will probably choose to postpone the first interest rate cut until December,” Kjersti Haugland at DNB Markets said. 

Haugland said that after a first interest rate cut in December, the central bank will likely take a gradual and moderate approach to lowering rates. 

PM saddened by vandalism to Jewish cemetery 

Over the weekend, a Jewish cemetery in Trondheim was vandalized, something which Norway’s PM has condemned. 

“It upsets me. I strongly distance myself from these actions, which are completely unacceptable in Norway,” Jonas Gahr Støre said to VG

“I understand that such actions are frightening for Norwegian Jews. I emphasize that we should not bring the conflict from the Middle East home to Norway and turn it into a conflict between people in this country,” he said. 

Trouble with train traffic in Oslo 

Another signal issue has led to a train stoppage between Bryn and Grorud stations in Oslo. 

Trains on the Sørlandsbanen are also affected by the issues. This affects trains between Oslo and Stavanger. 

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TODAY IN NORWAY

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

High risk of forest fires in southern Norway, Princess Anne of Great Britain visits Norway, and other news making the headlines in the country on Tuesday.

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

Forest fire risk increases in southern Norway

In the coming days, large parts of southern Norway face a significant increase in the risk of forest fires, according to data from the Norwegian Meteorological Institute.

The fire service in Sarpsborg and Rakkestad municipalities issued a warning against any form of open flame in forested areas.

MAPS: Where is there a risk of forest fire in Norway this week?

“Do not light anything – no coffee fires or disposable grills… The speed at which a fire can spread and its potential size are unpredictable,” they said.

At bright red, the Forest Fire Risk Index indicates a very high probability of forest fires. The index also reveals escalating danger levels from Tuesday to Wednesday.

Princess Anne honours WWII resistance in Rjukan

On Tuesday, Princess Anne of Great Britain, sister of King Charles, will visit Rjukan in Tinn Municipality in Telemark County as part of her journey across Norway.

Her visit is dedicated to commemorating the resistance efforts during the Second World War.

Among her scheduled stops, Princess Anne will visit the Vemork site, where she’ll tour the museum constructed around the basement central to the famous 1943 sabotage operation.

She’ll also pay her respects by laying flowers at the power station site.

Train service disrupted on Sørlandsbanen

Travellers on the Sørlandsbanen route between Drammen via Kristiansand to Stavanger should expect delays today due to the line’s closure between Kristiansand and Gjerstad.

The closure is due to extensive damage from a goods train derailment in Vegårshei on Monday evening. Bane NOR estimated that repairs would require considerable time.

Bus services have been arranged between Kristiansand and Gjerstad for the remainder of Tuesday.

Further updates on the route’s status will be provided by Bane NOR at noon.

Man with knife arrested in central Oslo

During the night between Monday and Tuesday, the police detained a man in his late 20s in the centre of Oslo, on Karl Johans street, following reports of him threatening multiple people with a knife.

Oslo Police District, in a press release, stated that law enforcement successfully apprehended the person in question.

The arrest occurred without incident.

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