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TimesLIVE
3 days ago
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
World leaders react to Trump-Putin summit reaching no deal on Ukraine
Following are reactions from world leaders on Saturday to the summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which did not resolve Moscow's war in Ukraine. NORWEGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ESPEN BARTH EIDE: 'President Putin of Russia reiterated known arguments, such as emphasising the so-called 'root causes' of the war, which is code for the Russian justification for the illegal invasion of Ukraine. Our view is clear: it is important we must continue to put pressure on Russia, and even increase it, to give the clear signal to Russia that it must pay the price. 'We must listen to Ukraine's wishes and needs. We know that President Putin wants to split Europe and the US. With all our allies, we must do everything we can to avoid that. I am optimistic that we can achieve that, but we must be clear that this is a clear motivation for President Putin ... 'I don't believe it will have any effect on the battlefield right now. Too little concrete information has come out, and we see no movement at all in the Russian position.' CZECH DEFENCE MINISTER JANA CERNOCHOVA, ON X: 'The Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska did not bring any fundamental progress towards ending the war in Ukraine, but it did confirm that Putin is not looking for peace, but an opportunity to weaken the unity of the West and spread his propaganda. He is trying to prolong the conflict to achieve the maximum of his goals in terms of Russian expansion. Regardless of the human casualties and the devastation of Ukrainian cities. 'The meeting was nevertheless important, among other things, because it reveals the true motives and mindset of Vladimir Putin. 'For us, it follows that it is necessary to maintain the cohesion of the West and persist in supporting Ukraine so that any agreement on a ceasefire or peace is not only based on Russian notes. This is in our vital interest.' HUNGARIAN FOREIGN MINISTER PETER SZIJJARTO, ON X: 'The world is a safer place as long as there is US—Russia dialogue at the highest level. Credit to both presidents for making this summit happen. Today once again confirmed: the war in Ukraine will not be settled on the battlefield, but at the negotiating table. Peace can only be achieved through negotiations, dialogue and keeping diplomatic channels open. 'Hungary has stood by this for 3.5 years, unlike Brussels and pro-war European politicians.'
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
World leaders react to Trump-Putin summit reaching no deal on Ukraine
U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin hold a press conference following their meeting to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, U.S., August 15, 2025. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon Following are reactions from world leaders on Saturday to the summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which did not resolve Moscow's war in Ukraine. NORWEGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ESPEN BARTH EIDE: "President Putin of Russia reiterated known arguments, such as emphasising the so-called 'root causes' of the war, which is code for the Russian justification for the illegal invasion of Ukraine. Our view is clear: it is important we must continue to put pressure on Russia, and even increase it, to give the clear signal to Russia that it must pay the price. "We must listen to Ukraine's wishes and needs. We know that President Putin wants to split Europe and the United States. With all our allies, we must do everything we can to avoid that. I am optimistic that we can achieve that, but we must be clear that this is a clear motivation for President Putin... "I don't believe it will have any effect on the battlefield right now. Too little concrete information has come out, and we see no movement at all in the Russian position." CZECH DEFENCE MINISTER JANA CERNOCHOVA, ON X: "The Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska did not bring any fundamental progress towards ending the war in Ukraine, but it did confirm that Putin is not looking for peace, but an opportunity to weaken the unity of the West and spread his propaganda. He is trying to prolong the conflict in order to achieve the maximum of his goals in terms of Russian expansion. Regardless of the human casualties and the devastation of Ukrainian cities. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Over 280 vapes seized, more than 640 people checked in one night by police, HSA in anti-vape raids Singapore 5 new walking trails allow hikers to explore heritage sites and win supermarket vouchers World Trump advises Ukraine's Zelensky to 'make a deal' with Russia after meeting Putin World Did Putin just put one over Trump at the US-Russia summit on Ukraine? Life Meet the tutors who take O-level exams every year to create a 'war mate' bond with their students Singapore Nowhere to run: Why Singapore needs to start protecting its coasts now Life Switching careers in middle age and beyond: How these Singapore professionals did it Opinion Revitalise nightlife? Let's get the crowds out first "The meeting was nevertheless important, among other things, because it reveals the true motives and mindset of Vladimir Putin. "For us, it follows that it is necessary to maintain the cohesion of the West and persist in supporting Ukraine so that any agreement on a ceasefire or peace is not only based on Russian notes. This is in our vital interest." HUNGARIAN FOREIGN MINISTER PETER SZIJJARTO, ON X: "The world is a safer place as long as there is US–Russia dialogue at the highest level. Credit to both presidents for making this summit happen. Today once again confirmed: the war in Ukraine will not be settled on the battlefield, but at the negotiating table. Peace can only be achieved through negotiations, dialogue, and keeping diplomatic channels open. "Hungary has stood by this for 3.5 years, unlike Brussels and pro-war European politicians." REUTERS
The Advertiser
6 days ago
- The Advertiser
'Fear or financial gain': what motivated Norwegian cocaine diver caught in port?
A NORWEGIAN professional diver caught attempting to retrieve 80 kilograms of cocaine from a bulk carrier moored in the Port of Newcastle, part of an international drug importation dubbed "Finding Nemo", claims he was motivated by fear after syndicate higher-ups threatened his family. Jon Birger Karlsen, now 53, in April pleaded guilty to attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, admitting he was one of the two divers who attempted to collect the cocaine shipment hidden aboard the bulk carrier Stalo in the early hours of January 25, 2023. Karlsen, and fellow Norwegian national and professional diver Johan-Martinius Halvorsen, low-level members of a sophisticated international drug importation syndicate flown in especially for the job, had been beaten to the haul by police divers, who days earlier had received an anonymous tip-off. During a sentence hearing on Wednesday, Public Defender Peter Krisenthal argued Karlsen's role in the plot to extract the cocaine was less than that of Halvorsen, who he said handled the money, booked the accommodation, and organised the diving equipment. He said Karlsen only became aware of the drug importation plot when he was already in Australia, and his "protests" were then met with pressure and threats. He said his involvement in the plot was not motivated by financial gain, but fear. "He acknowledged on reflection that he gradually became increasingly sceptical of the activities he was being asked to assist with, but by the time he fully accepted he had become involved in illegal activity he felt fearful of those directing him and he was unsure how to get himself out of the situation," Mr Krisenthal said, referencing a psychologist's report. Mr Krisenthal said Karlsen's family in Norway were threatened by syndicate higher-ups and he only remained in the operation because of fears they would be harmed. Judge Roy Ellis said there was no evidence of the threats, and Karlsen had not mentioned any concerns to police at the time of his arrest. "When one looks at all of the circumstances, it is very difficult to accept that Mr Karlsen was not aware well before [the day of the failed extraction] that why he was being flown to Australia for free and why he was then involved in purchasing $60,000 worth of equipment was that he was to be involved in an importation of cocaine into Australia," Judge Ellis said. "I think one would have to be sticking one's head in the sand to think anything other than that they knew what was involved was drugs." Judge Ellis was sceptical that Karlsen, as an expert diver, would not have asked what work he would be undertaking, how much he was being paid, and why they were purchasing such expensive equipment, including underwater scooters. He said while Karlsen may have some concerns about who he was dealing with, he was not satisfied that he was acting solely due to duress. Halvorsen was in March jailed for a maximum of 10 years and two months for his role in the failed importation plot. Judge Ellis found he was motivated by financial stress and the temptation to make money quickly when he ordered he become eligible for parole in 2028 after serving five years and nine months. Karlsen was on Wednesday jailed for a maximum of nine years and 11 months, with a non-parole period of four years and 11 months, making him eligible for parole on Christmas Eve, 2027. According to an agreed statement of facts, the pair landed in Brisbane on flights from Indonesia on January 17 and 18, 2023. They spent the next week purchasing expensive diving equipment and underwater scooters from the Gold Coast, booking an Airbnb at Pelican and undertaking practice dives at Blacksmiths Beach. While they used an encrypted app to communicate with other members of the drug trafficking syndicate and Halvorsen used the pseudonyms "Aqua Man" or "Norse Diver", the pair used their own names, identification documents and credit cards when speaking to locals or purchasing equipment. They also attracted attention at Blacksmiths beach when, in the middle of the day on January 23, they donned full-body wetsuits, complete with hoods and diving masks, and used their newly-purchased Seabob underwater scooters. One beach-goer even took photos of the Norwegians and their fancy gear, asking the men what they did for a living. "We are ice divers," one of them said. It was a practice dive ahead of the planned retrieval of the cocaine hidden in the sea chest of the Cyprus-registered bulk carrier Stalo a few days later, but all the preparation would be in vain. The police, after receiving an anonymous tip-off, had got their first. The tip was an anonymous voicemail, an electronic recording that repeated the words "the ship Stalo will be entering Port of Newcastle with drugs located in the bulwark". A day before the two Norwegians slipped into the harbour under the cover of darkness and headed for the Stalo, police divers had already raided the sea chest and found the 80 kilograms of cocaine. The Norwegians arrived to find the sea chest empty and the 80 or so red, blue and yellow packages that had been weighed down, cable-tied and stuffed in waterproof duffel bags gone. The pair then swam towards the shore and were spotted by crew members on a ferry, who shone torches on them and asked if they needed assistance. The divers waved them off, swam away and climbed up rocks before discarding some of their diving equipment and tools. They drove away, leaving a heap of diving gear in a car park at Wickham. Empty-handed and unsure what to do next, the men returned to Honeysuckle later that day and were arrested as they sat in camping chairs facing the harbour. A NORWEGIAN professional diver caught attempting to retrieve 80 kilograms of cocaine from a bulk carrier moored in the Port of Newcastle, part of an international drug importation dubbed "Finding Nemo", claims he was motivated by fear after syndicate higher-ups threatened his family. Jon Birger Karlsen, now 53, in April pleaded guilty to attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, admitting he was one of the two divers who attempted to collect the cocaine shipment hidden aboard the bulk carrier Stalo in the early hours of January 25, 2023. Karlsen, and fellow Norwegian national and professional diver Johan-Martinius Halvorsen, low-level members of a sophisticated international drug importation syndicate flown in especially for the job, had been beaten to the haul by police divers, who days earlier had received an anonymous tip-off. During a sentence hearing on Wednesday, Public Defender Peter Krisenthal argued Karlsen's role in the plot to extract the cocaine was less than that of Halvorsen, who he said handled the money, booked the accommodation, and organised the diving equipment. He said Karlsen only became aware of the drug importation plot when he was already in Australia, and his "protests" were then met with pressure and threats. He said his involvement in the plot was not motivated by financial gain, but fear. "He acknowledged on reflection that he gradually became increasingly sceptical of the activities he was being asked to assist with, but by the time he fully accepted he had become involved in illegal activity he felt fearful of those directing him and he was unsure how to get himself out of the situation," Mr Krisenthal said, referencing a psychologist's report. Mr Krisenthal said Karlsen's family in Norway were threatened by syndicate higher-ups and he only remained in the operation because of fears they would be harmed. Judge Roy Ellis said there was no evidence of the threats, and Karlsen had not mentioned any concerns to police at the time of his arrest. "When one looks at all of the circumstances, it is very difficult to accept that Mr Karlsen was not aware well before [the day of the failed extraction] that why he was being flown to Australia for free and why he was then involved in purchasing $60,000 worth of equipment was that he was to be involved in an importation of cocaine into Australia," Judge Ellis said. "I think one would have to be sticking one's head in the sand to think anything other than that they knew what was involved was drugs." Judge Ellis was sceptical that Karlsen, as an expert diver, would not have asked what work he would be undertaking, how much he was being paid, and why they were purchasing such expensive equipment, including underwater scooters. He said while Karlsen may have some concerns about who he was dealing with, he was not satisfied that he was acting solely due to duress. Halvorsen was in March jailed for a maximum of 10 years and two months for his role in the failed importation plot. Judge Ellis found he was motivated by financial stress and the temptation to make money quickly when he ordered he become eligible for parole in 2028 after serving five years and nine months. Karlsen was on Wednesday jailed for a maximum of nine years and 11 months, with a non-parole period of four years and 11 months, making him eligible for parole on Christmas Eve, 2027. According to an agreed statement of facts, the pair landed in Brisbane on flights from Indonesia on January 17 and 18, 2023. They spent the next week purchasing expensive diving equipment and underwater scooters from the Gold Coast, booking an Airbnb at Pelican and undertaking practice dives at Blacksmiths Beach. While they used an encrypted app to communicate with other members of the drug trafficking syndicate and Halvorsen used the pseudonyms "Aqua Man" or "Norse Diver", the pair used their own names, identification documents and credit cards when speaking to locals or purchasing equipment. They also attracted attention at Blacksmiths beach when, in the middle of the day on January 23, they donned full-body wetsuits, complete with hoods and diving masks, and used their newly-purchased Seabob underwater scooters. One beach-goer even took photos of the Norwegians and their fancy gear, asking the men what they did for a living. "We are ice divers," one of them said. It was a practice dive ahead of the planned retrieval of the cocaine hidden in the sea chest of the Cyprus-registered bulk carrier Stalo a few days later, but all the preparation would be in vain. The police, after receiving an anonymous tip-off, had got their first. The tip was an anonymous voicemail, an electronic recording that repeated the words "the ship Stalo will be entering Port of Newcastle with drugs located in the bulwark". A day before the two Norwegians slipped into the harbour under the cover of darkness and headed for the Stalo, police divers had already raided the sea chest and found the 80 kilograms of cocaine. The Norwegians arrived to find the sea chest empty and the 80 or so red, blue and yellow packages that had been weighed down, cable-tied and stuffed in waterproof duffel bags gone. The pair then swam towards the shore and were spotted by crew members on a ferry, who shone torches on them and asked if they needed assistance. The divers waved them off, swam away and climbed up rocks before discarding some of their diving equipment and tools. They drove away, leaving a heap of diving gear in a car park at Wickham. Empty-handed and unsure what to do next, the men returned to Honeysuckle later that day and were arrested as they sat in camping chairs facing the harbour. A NORWEGIAN professional diver caught attempting to retrieve 80 kilograms of cocaine from a bulk carrier moored in the Port of Newcastle, part of an international drug importation dubbed "Finding Nemo", claims he was motivated by fear after syndicate higher-ups threatened his family. Jon Birger Karlsen, now 53, in April pleaded guilty to attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, admitting he was one of the two divers who attempted to collect the cocaine shipment hidden aboard the bulk carrier Stalo in the early hours of January 25, 2023. Karlsen, and fellow Norwegian national and professional diver Johan-Martinius Halvorsen, low-level members of a sophisticated international drug importation syndicate flown in especially for the job, had been beaten to the haul by police divers, who days earlier had received an anonymous tip-off. During a sentence hearing on Wednesday, Public Defender Peter Krisenthal argued Karlsen's role in the plot to extract the cocaine was less than that of Halvorsen, who he said handled the money, booked the accommodation, and organised the diving equipment. He said Karlsen only became aware of the drug importation plot when he was already in Australia, and his "protests" were then met with pressure and threats. He said his involvement in the plot was not motivated by financial gain, but fear. "He acknowledged on reflection that he gradually became increasingly sceptical of the activities he was being asked to assist with, but by the time he fully accepted he had become involved in illegal activity he felt fearful of those directing him and he was unsure how to get himself out of the situation," Mr Krisenthal said, referencing a psychologist's report. Mr Krisenthal said Karlsen's family in Norway were threatened by syndicate higher-ups and he only remained in the operation because of fears they would be harmed. Judge Roy Ellis said there was no evidence of the threats, and Karlsen had not mentioned any concerns to police at the time of his arrest. "When one looks at all of the circumstances, it is very difficult to accept that Mr Karlsen was not aware well before [the day of the failed extraction] that why he was being flown to Australia for free and why he was then involved in purchasing $60,000 worth of equipment was that he was to be involved in an importation of cocaine into Australia," Judge Ellis said. "I think one would have to be sticking one's head in the sand to think anything other than that they knew what was involved was drugs." Judge Ellis was sceptical that Karlsen, as an expert diver, would not have asked what work he would be undertaking, how much he was being paid, and why they were purchasing such expensive equipment, including underwater scooters. He said while Karlsen may have some concerns about who he was dealing with, he was not satisfied that he was acting solely due to duress. Halvorsen was in March jailed for a maximum of 10 years and two months for his role in the failed importation plot. Judge Ellis found he was motivated by financial stress and the temptation to make money quickly when he ordered he become eligible for parole in 2028 after serving five years and nine months. Karlsen was on Wednesday jailed for a maximum of nine years and 11 months, with a non-parole period of four years and 11 months, making him eligible for parole on Christmas Eve, 2027. According to an agreed statement of facts, the pair landed in Brisbane on flights from Indonesia on January 17 and 18, 2023. They spent the next week purchasing expensive diving equipment and underwater scooters from the Gold Coast, booking an Airbnb at Pelican and undertaking practice dives at Blacksmiths Beach. While they used an encrypted app to communicate with other members of the drug trafficking syndicate and Halvorsen used the pseudonyms "Aqua Man" or "Norse Diver", the pair used their own names, identification documents and credit cards when speaking to locals or purchasing equipment. They also attracted attention at Blacksmiths beach when, in the middle of the day on January 23, they donned full-body wetsuits, complete with hoods and diving masks, and used their newly-purchased Seabob underwater scooters. One beach-goer even took photos of the Norwegians and their fancy gear, asking the men what they did for a living. "We are ice divers," one of them said. It was a practice dive ahead of the planned retrieval of the cocaine hidden in the sea chest of the Cyprus-registered bulk carrier Stalo a few days later, but all the preparation would be in vain. The police, after receiving an anonymous tip-off, had got their first. The tip was an anonymous voicemail, an electronic recording that repeated the words "the ship Stalo will be entering Port of Newcastle with drugs located in the bulwark". A day before the two Norwegians slipped into the harbour under the cover of darkness and headed for the Stalo, police divers had already raided the sea chest and found the 80 kilograms of cocaine. The Norwegians arrived to find the sea chest empty and the 80 or so red, blue and yellow packages that had been weighed down, cable-tied and stuffed in waterproof duffel bags gone. The pair then swam towards the shore and were spotted by crew members on a ferry, who shone torches on them and asked if they needed assistance. The divers waved them off, swam away and climbed up rocks before discarding some of their diving equipment and tools. They drove away, leaving a heap of diving gear in a car park at Wickham. Empty-handed and unsure what to do next, the men returned to Honeysuckle later that day and were arrested as they sat in camping chairs facing the harbour. A NORWEGIAN professional diver caught attempting to retrieve 80 kilograms of cocaine from a bulk carrier moored in the Port of Newcastle, part of an international drug importation dubbed "Finding Nemo", claims he was motivated by fear after syndicate higher-ups threatened his family. Jon Birger Karlsen, now 53, in April pleaded guilty to attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, admitting he was one of the two divers who attempted to collect the cocaine shipment hidden aboard the bulk carrier Stalo in the early hours of January 25, 2023. Karlsen, and fellow Norwegian national and professional diver Johan-Martinius Halvorsen, low-level members of a sophisticated international drug importation syndicate flown in especially for the job, had been beaten to the haul by police divers, who days earlier had received an anonymous tip-off. During a sentence hearing on Wednesday, Public Defender Peter Krisenthal argued Karlsen's role in the plot to extract the cocaine was less than that of Halvorsen, who he said handled the money, booked the accommodation, and organised the diving equipment. He said Karlsen only became aware of the drug importation plot when he was already in Australia, and his "protests" were then met with pressure and threats. He said his involvement in the plot was not motivated by financial gain, but fear. "He acknowledged on reflection that he gradually became increasingly sceptical of the activities he was being asked to assist with, but by the time he fully accepted he had become involved in illegal activity he felt fearful of those directing him and he was unsure how to get himself out of the situation," Mr Krisenthal said, referencing a psychologist's report. Mr Krisenthal said Karlsen's family in Norway were threatened by syndicate higher-ups and he only remained in the operation because of fears they would be harmed. Judge Roy Ellis said there was no evidence of the threats, and Karlsen had not mentioned any concerns to police at the time of his arrest. "When one looks at all of the circumstances, it is very difficult to accept that Mr Karlsen was not aware well before [the day of the failed extraction] that why he was being flown to Australia for free and why he was then involved in purchasing $60,000 worth of equipment was that he was to be involved in an importation of cocaine into Australia," Judge Ellis said. "I think one would have to be sticking one's head in the sand to think anything other than that they knew what was involved was drugs." Judge Ellis was sceptical that Karlsen, as an expert diver, would not have asked what work he would be undertaking, how much he was being paid, and why they were purchasing such expensive equipment, including underwater scooters. He said while Karlsen may have some concerns about who he was dealing with, he was not satisfied that he was acting solely due to duress. Halvorsen was in March jailed for a maximum of 10 years and two months for his role in the failed importation plot. Judge Ellis found he was motivated by financial stress and the temptation to make money quickly when he ordered he become eligible for parole in 2028 after serving five years and nine months. Karlsen was on Wednesday jailed for a maximum of nine years and 11 months, with a non-parole period of four years and 11 months, making him eligible for parole on Christmas Eve, 2027. According to an agreed statement of facts, the pair landed in Brisbane on flights from Indonesia on January 17 and 18, 2023. They spent the next week purchasing expensive diving equipment and underwater scooters from the Gold Coast, booking an Airbnb at Pelican and undertaking practice dives at Blacksmiths Beach. While they used an encrypted app to communicate with other members of the drug trafficking syndicate and Halvorsen used the pseudonyms "Aqua Man" or "Norse Diver", the pair used their own names, identification documents and credit cards when speaking to locals or purchasing equipment. They also attracted attention at Blacksmiths beach when, in the middle of the day on January 23, they donned full-body wetsuits, complete with hoods and diving masks, and used their newly-purchased Seabob underwater scooters. One beach-goer even took photos of the Norwegians and their fancy gear, asking the men what they did for a living. "We are ice divers," one of them said. It was a practice dive ahead of the planned retrieval of the cocaine hidden in the sea chest of the Cyprus-registered bulk carrier Stalo a few days later, but all the preparation would be in vain. The police, after receiving an anonymous tip-off, had got their first. The tip was an anonymous voicemail, an electronic recording that repeated the words "the ship Stalo will be entering Port of Newcastle with drugs located in the bulwark". A day before the two Norwegians slipped into the harbour under the cover of darkness and headed for the Stalo, police divers had already raided the sea chest and found the 80 kilograms of cocaine. The Norwegians arrived to find the sea chest empty and the 80 or so red, blue and yellow packages that had been weighed down, cable-tied and stuffed in waterproof duffel bags gone. The pair then swam towards the shore and were spotted by crew members on a ferry, who shone torches on them and asked if they needed assistance. The divers waved them off, swam away and climbed up rocks before discarding some of their diving equipment and tools. They drove away, leaving a heap of diving gear in a car park at Wickham. Empty-handed and unsure what to do next, the men returned to Honeysuckle later that day and were arrested as they sat in camping chairs facing the harbour.
The Sun
17-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Tour de France rider faces online abuse after Pogacar crash
NORWEGIAN cyclist Tobias Johannessen has expressed deep regret after causing a crash involving Tour de France contender Tadej Pogacar during Wednesday's stage. The incident, which occurred near the end of the 156.8km race around Toulouse, saw Pogacar hit the ground after colliding with Johannessen's rear wheel. Despite the fall, Pogacar quickly remounted his bike, with rivals Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel slowing down to allow him to rejoin the peloton. The Slovenian rider, currently second overall, downplayed the incident, saying, 'Luckily I've just lost some skin.' Johannessen immediately took responsibility for the crash, posting an apology on social media. 'I am terribly sorry for what happened to (Pogacar),' he wrote. 'I was trying to follow a move and I can see that I was too close. I thought everyone would move to the right, but I made a mistake and would like to say sorry again.' However, the 24-year-old also revealed the disturbing backlash he faced online. 'I would not wish anyone the amount of threats I get in my inbox. I am terribly sorry but also terrified of the hate from all the people. This feels very scary.' This is not the first time a rider has faced severe online abuse following a crash in this year's Tour. French cyclist Bryan Coquard received similar treatment after an incident that forced Belgium's Jasper Philipsen to abandon the race with a broken collarbone and two fractured ribs. Philipsen, however, publicly stated he did not blame Coquard. - AFP
The Journal
30-06-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Thousands of Norwegians told that they had won millions in major lottery error
A NORWEGIAN LOTTERY has apologised to 47,000 crestfallen gamblers who were mistakenly told they had won huge sums in a lottery – which the firm has blamed on a currency conversion error. State-owned gambling group Norsk Tipping said they had published incorrect prize amounts after a Eurojackpot draw on Friday because of an error converting from euro cents to Norwegian kroner. The winnings had been multiplied by 100 instead of being divided by 100, the company said. Among the disappointed was Ole Fredrik Sveen, who was on holiday in Greece when he received a message from Norsk Tipping that he had won 1.2 million kroner (€101,000). 'I thought: 'Wow, is it finally my turn? Could it be true?' I go onto the Norsk Tipping website, and there it says in black and white: 'Congratulations, you have won!',' Sveen told public broadcaster NRK. In reality, he had won 125 kroner (€10.50). Advertisement Today, Sveen and the 47,000 others received apologies by text message from Norsk Tipping for the snafu. 'The apology was a poor consolation. They should have sent it out after the mistake, not today,' he said. Norsk Tipping has been heavily criticised for the error – not only from devastated players like Sveen but also from the authorities. The Lottery Authority said that it had launched a review to determine if gambling laws had been broken, and Culture Minister Lubna Jaffery called the error 'totally unacceptable'. The firm's chief executive Tonje Sagstuen resigned on Saturday after the scandal, leaving acting chief executive Vegar Strand to apologise. Strand said his company's state ownership made the mistake particularly problematic, noting that the firm was 'entirely dependent on the trust of the population'. 'We have deeply disappointed our customers and take full responsibility for rectifying the situation. Such errors are serious for a company that is supposed to manage the trust of Norwegians,' Strand said. 'The work to rebuild trust again has the highest priority going forward.'
