Latest news with #Storting
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
King Harald and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway Team Up to Host Former President Barack Obama
President Barack Obama had a royal visit during his trip to Norway. The former U.S. leader visited with King Harald V, the King's daughter-in-law Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre at the Bygdø Kongsgård royal summer estate in Bygdøyveien on Tuesday, May 13. The visit came as Obama was in Norway for a lecture at the Oslo Spektrum on Monday, May 12. Moderated by Sofie Høgestøl, a podcaster and former member of Norwegian parliament, the discussion delved into 'some of the most pressing issues of our time, as well as his thoughts on the challenges facing the world's democracies in the future.' Obama and King Harald were well acquainted during his time in office. The monarch presented the former president with the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009 for his efforts in international diplomacy. The meeting came just over a year after King Harald reduced his royal duties following a lengthy sick leave and an operation to install a permanent pacemaker. "The King will make adjustments to his program in the future, out of consideration for his age. This will entail a permanent reduction in the number and scope of activities in which the King participates," the Norwegian Royal House announced on April 22, 2024. Princess Mette-Marit's husband, Crown Prince Haakon, is next in line to the throne and has assumed some royal duties due to his father's health limitations. The couple married in 2001 and share two children, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 21, and Prince Sverre Magnus, 19. Princess Ingrid is currently second in line to the throne thanks to Norway adopting absolute primogeniture in 1990, allowing for eldest female children to come before their brothers in the order of succession. Though the King of Norway has had several health issues in recent years, including hospitalizations for infections in December 2022 and May 2023, he stated in January 2024 that he had no plans to abdicate. The issue was top of mind after Queen Margrethe of Denmark voluntarily stepped down from the throne in January 2024. 'No, I don't really have it. I stand by what I have said all along. I have taken an oath to the Storting, and it lasts for life,' King Harald said at the time, referring to his promise to the Norwegian Parliament when he acceded at age 53 in 1991. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
King Harald and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway Team Up to Host Former President Barack Obama
President Barack Obama had a royal visit during his trip to Norway. The former U.S. leader visited with King Harald V, the King's daughter-in-law Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre at the Bygdø Kongsgård royal summer estate in Bygdøyveien on Tuesday, May 13. The visit came as Obama was in Norway for a lecture at the Oslo Spektrum on Monday, May 12. Moderated by Sofie Høgestøl, a podcaster and former member of Norwegian parliament, the discussion delved into 'some of the most pressing issues of our time, as well as his thoughts on the challenges facing the world's democracies in the future.' Obama and King Harald were well acquainted during his time in office. The monarch presented the former president with the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009 for his efforts in international diplomacy. The meeting came just over a year after King Harald reduced his royal duties following a lengthy sick leave and an operation to install a permanent pacemaker. "The King will make adjustments to his program in the future, out of consideration for his age. This will entail a permanent reduction in the number and scope of activities in which the King participates," the Norwegian Royal House announced on April 22, 2024. Princess Mette-Marit's husband, Crown Prince Haakon, is next in line to the throne and has assumed some royal duties due to his father's health limitations. The couple married in 2001 and share two children, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 21, and Prince Sverre Magnus, 19. Princess Ingrid is currently second in line to the throne thanks to Norway adopting absolute primogeniture in 1990, allowing for eldest female children to come before their brothers in the order of succession. Though the King of Norway has had several health issues in recent years, including hospitalizations for infections in December 2022 and May 2023, he stated in January 2024 that he had no plans to abdicate. The issue was top of mind after Queen Margrethe of Denmark voluntarily stepped down from the throne in January 2024. 'No, I don't really have it. I stand by what I have said all along. I have taken an oath to the Storting, and it lasts for life,' King Harald said at the time, referring to his promise to the Norwegian Parliament when he acceded at age 53 in 1991. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Norway greenlights increase in aid to Ukraine to almost US$8bn this year
The Norwegian government discussed and approved an increase in assistance to Ukraine by NOK 50 billion (US$4.6 billion) for 2025, bringing the total to NOK 85 billion (US$7.8 billion), during a meeting on 4 April. Source: Norway's Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg, as reported by European Pravda, citing Norwegian public broadcaster NRK Details: Stoltenberg noted that the Norwegian government has approved a support package totalling NOK 50 billion in addition to the previous NOK 35 billion aid. This brings the total amount of funding to support Ukraine this year to NOK 85 billion. "We are tripling our military support," the minister stated, noting that the funds will be allocated abroad, ensuring no strain on the Norwegian economy. Background: In early March, the Norwegian parliament, the Storting, backed the funding increase to support Ukraine. Earlier, Oslo approved the NOK 75 billion (about US$7 billion) Nansen programme, which guarantees long-term support for Ukraine until 2027, providing NOK 15 billion (about US$1.4 billion) annually. However, this year, Norwegian authorities proposed increasing the programme's funding to €135 billion and extending it for another three years until 2030. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Norway to nearly double its K9 howitzer fleet for around $534 million
PARIS — Norway plans to nearly double its fleet of self-propelled artillery, proposing to buy an additional 24 K9 Thunder howitzers from Hanwha Aerospace for a budget of 5.65 billion Norwegian kroner, or $534 million. The 155 mm howitzers will equip a new artillery battalion within the planned Finnmark brigade being set up to bolster Norway's defenses in the high north, according to a government proposal published on Friday. The purchase plan is part of 17 billion kroner in proposed spending that also includes more sea mine-clearing capability, new military trucks and spending on facilities. Norway already has 28 tracked K9 howitzers as well as 14 K10 ammunition resupply vehicles, and will exercise an option in its contract with Hanwha for the additional purchase, the government said. The spending plan still needs to be approved by the Norwegian parliament, the Storting. 'We are in a serious security policy situation,' Minister of Defence Tore Sandvik said. 'Therefore, we will now ask the Storting to approve significant investments in various parts of the Armed Forces to strengthen Norway's defense capability, in line with the ambitions of the long-term plan presented last year.' The Norwegian government in October last year proposed to raise the country's 2025 defense budget by 19.2 billion kroner to 110.1 billion kroner. The budget for the additional howitzers includes the guns as well as spare parts, according to the spending proposal. The acquisition of additional artillery pieces 'will contribute to significantly strengthening the Army's firepower,' the government said. The extra howitzers increase the total budget for the Norwegian 155 mm artillery project to 11.1 billion kroner, according to the government proposal. Other K9 operators in the Baltic region are Poland, Finland and Estonia. The government also plans to spend an additional 3.9 billion kroner on maritime mine countermeasures, increasing the total budget for that project to 8.74 billion kroner. The plan for the Norwegian Navy's future mine-clearing capability, first approved in 2023, will include unmanned and autonomous systems. The previously approved mine countermeasures capability was assessed as too small in relation to the operational needs of a new security situation, according to the government. Expanding the scope of the project will ensure sufficient resources to safeguard 'freedom of movement in Norwegian waters even in a crisis or war,' the government said. 'This will help to ensure that our own vessels and allies can sail safely and freely in Norwegian waters,' Sandvik said. 'In addition, it can help to secure critical underwater infrastructure.'
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Norway to increase aid to Ukraine to almost US$8bn this year
The Norwegian parliament has decided to increase aid to Ukraine by US$4.6 billion to US$7.8 billion in 2025. Source: a statement, following a meeting of the leaders of parliamentary factions, as European Pravda reported with the reference to NRK, a Norwegian public broadcaster Details: Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said that the decision to increase support for Ukraine was made "because there is a need for it". "This is a significant contribution to peace and stability in Europe," he added. Currently, NOK 35 billion (US$3.2 billion) has been allocated for support until 2025. "There is a cross-party agreement in the Storting [Norwegian parliament – ed.] to significantly increase support for support will help Ukraine to stand up to Russia and also to help with the peace plan that European countries are working on," Støre said. Background: Earlier on Thursday, 6 March, Støre briefed the parliament on the situation in Ukraine. He touched on direct support for Ukraine, as well as relations with the new US administration, while Norway works to strengthen its own defence. Støre called the US signals that it would end its military and intelligence support for Ukraine "very sad and depressing". Last year, Norway approved the NOK 75 billion (US$6.9 billion) Nansen programme, which provides long-term support to Ukraine until 2027, with NOK 15 billion (US$1.4 billion) annually. However, this year, the country's authorities proposed to increase the programme's funding to €135 billion and extend it for another three years, until 2030. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
