Tag: Norway

Spain to join Norway, Ireland in recognising Palestinian state

Spain is set to announce its recognition of an independent Palestinian state, sources said on Wednesday.

Already, Norway and Ireland have announced their recognition of a Palestinian state, with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere saying on Wednesday that the recognition “is in the hope that this will help bring peace with Israel”.

European Union members Slovenia and Malta have also indicated in recent weeks that they plan to make the recognition, arguing a two-state solution is essential for lasting peace in the region.

“In the middle of a war, with tens of thousands of dead and injured, we must keep alive the only thing that can provide a safe home for both Israelis and Palestinians: two states that can live in peace with each other,” Stoere told a news conference.

Before the announcement, some 143 out of 193 member-states of the United Nations recognised a Palestinian state.

European countries have approached the issue differently.

Some, like Sweden, recognised a Palestinian state a decade ago, while France is not planning to do so unless it can be an effective tool to make progress toward peace.

The moves come as Israeli forces have led assaults on the northern and southern edges of the Gaza Strip in May, causing a new exodus of hundreds of thousands of people, and sharply restricting the flow of aid, raising the risk of famine.

Non-EU member Norway has long said it would recognise Palestine as a country only if it could have a positive impact on the peace process, in step with what the United States has said on the issue.

Norway is a close U.S. ally, and the Nordic country has sought to help broker peace between Israel and the Palestinians on several occasions in recent decades.

May 22, 2024
Israel recalls envoys from Norway, Ireland over Palestine recognition

Israel is recalling its ambassadors from Norway and Ireland following the European countries’ drive to recognise Palestinian statehood, Israel’s foreign minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday.

“I have instructed the immediate recall of Israel’s ambassadors to Ireland and Norway for consultations in light of these countries’ decisions to recognise a Palestinian state,” Katz said.

“I’m sending a clear and unequivocal message to Ireland and Norway: Israel will not remain silent in the face of those undermining its sovereignty and endangering its security,” he posted on X.

Shortly before Katz’s announcement, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said his country would formally recognise Palestinian statehood on May 28.

Ireland is expected to announce a similar position soon.

May 22, 2024
Norway to recognise Palestinian statehood May 28

Norway will formally recognise Palestinian statehood on May 28, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said on Wednesday, in a move staunchly opposed by Israel.

The Nordic country’s announcement comes amid a broader push within several European countries, such as Ireland, to recognise Palestine as a state, believing it will advance the prospects for peace in the region.

The government in Israel rejects any unilateral attempts to impose a Palestinian state.

“Recognising a Palestinian state will lead to more terrorism, instability in the region and jeopardise any prospects for peace,” the Israeli Foreign Ministry said this week.

May 22, 2024
New Zealand stun Norway 1-0 as FIFA senior women’s World Cup begins

The 2023 FIFA women’s world Cup began with a lots of frenzy and exciting football moments with one of the co hosts of the tournament New Zealand grabbing its first win in the World cup’s history.

New Zealand shocked Norway 1-0 in Auckland, thanks to a stunning Hannah Wilkinson stunning goal just after half-time.

For so long, winning a World Cup game had proved to be an elusive goal for New Zealand. The Football Ferns’ previous five appearances in women’s tournaments had yielded not a single victory while the men also have not secured a win in their two World Cup appearances.

New Zealand have played more Women’s World Cup matches without winning than any other country in the tournament’s history (P15; D3, L12).

In the 48th minute, there was a rapid break down the right, Wilkinson lashed on to a cross from the flank and colly slotted the ball past the Norwegian goalie for the only goal of the encounter

The goal threw Eden Park into wild jubilations from the home fans.

Her goal ensured New Zealand’s first-ever World Cup victory in its sixth visit to women’s soccer’s showcase event.

It seemed fitting, then, that its first ever victory came on home turf in front of more than 40,000 raucous fans at an almost sold-out Eden Park, as New Zealand held on for the win despite Ria Percival’s penalty miss late in the game after a VAR decision.

Its the first ever win for New Zealand at the Senior World Cup at both male and Female category.

July 20, 2023
Norway donates $4.5million to support food crises in Northeast Nigeria

The Norwegian government has commited $4.5m to support food crisis in Northeast region of Nigeria.

This comes as an addition to the $24 million granted earlier.

The fund will be used to expand food security, nutrition, and sustainable livelihoods in Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, and Taraba states.

The Norwegian Government has committed an additional 4.5 million dollars in support of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), humanitarian activities in addressing the lingering crisis in the northeastern part of Nigeria.

The FAO Representative in Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Fred Kafeero, stated during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) ceremony between the UN body and the Norwegian Government in Abuja.

Kafeero said the support from the government of Norway amounted to 24 million dollars, since the start of the crisis and it has reached over 1,198, 077 conflict-affected people at present and still counting.

The financial assistance is specifically intended for the implementation of an ongoing initiative that seeks to expand food security, nutrition, and sustainable livelihoods in Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, and Taraba states.

According to him, since 2017, the Government of Norway through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has been generously contributing to rebuilding the lives and livelihoods of the most vulnerable communities in Northeast Nigeria that are affected by the now over a decade-long conflict.

For the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), Kafeero noted that FAO, being a key provider of livelihood support in the food security sector, has set a target of reaching two million people but only 56,000 individuals have been reached.

“Moreover, an analysis of the funding trends reveals that only 3.4 out of 100 units of total funding allocated to the food security sector are directed towards livelihood interventions.

“The addendum for a complementary fund for 2023 is deemed more than important, not only because it marks the continuous and fruitful collaboration, and partnership that exists between the Government of Norway and FAO in Nigeria but because it will contribute to filling the livelihoods funding gap for the 2023 lean season.

“While the funding is contributing towards improving food security in the NE, the gap is still huge in meeting the needs of 3.7 million people who need livelihood assistance.”

The Ambassador of the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Nigeria, Knut Eiliv Lein, said the $4.5 million additional funding commitment made by the government was aimed at supporting agriculture and people impacted by the conflict.

June 23, 2023
[Photo]Twitter labels Norwegian officials as Nigerian Govt. officials

Norwegian government organisation on Tuesday appealed to Twitter to change the label “Nigerian Government Officials” on its official Twitter handles and that of its leaders.

Recall that the certified Twitter accounts of Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt, and her ministry were all presented as Nigerian government officials or institutions, as at Tuesday.

The Norwegian foreign ministry wrote “Dear @TwitterSupport, as much as we enjoy our excellent bilateral relations and close alphabetical vicinity with Nigeria, we would much appreciate if you could label us as Norway.”

“P.S. That also goes for Prime Minister @jonasgahrstore and Foreign Minister @AHuitfeldt” the foreign ministry wrote in a tweet, followed by a winking emoji.

Although as at the time of filing this report, the mistake have since been rectified by Twitter.

See Photo below:

December 14, 2022
UCL: Haaland wrecks former club Dortmund as Manchester City grab second straight win

Norway international, Erling Haaland has dealt his former club a big blow by scoring the winner for Manchester city in the 84th minute of Wednesday’s Champions League encounter.

Manchester City were forced to come from a goal down to beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 on Wednesday and put one foot in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Haaland was out marked for the better part of the game only for him to latch on to a cross from the left side of the pitch to tap in the winner in the dying minutes of the game and condemned his former clubside to a defeat.

The Manchester City’s new acquisition has now scored two Champions League goals in two games for Manchester city.

Haaland has now scored 13 goals in his first eight competitive games for City since they met his bargain £51 million ($58 million) buyout clause from the German giants.

Jude Bellingham had given Dortmund the lead 11 minutes into the second half.

But a triple substitution awoke City from their slumber and two goals in four minutes turned the game around.

September 15, 2022
War: Norway dares Russia, supplies multiple -launch rocket systems to Ukraine

The European country of Norway has announced its readiness to supply three multiple -launch rocket systems to Ukraine amid war with Russia.

This was after a similar decision made by the United States.

Recall that the Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez on Wednesday also vowed that NATO and other countries will step up their support for Ukraine.

And following the G7 meeting and NATO summit in Madrid, World War III has begun to trend on social media, maybe because more countries are now violating Russia’s earlier warning on supplying weapons to Ukraine.

However, the Norwegian Defence Minister, Bjørn Arild Gram, said the donation is made possible by a close cooperation between his country and the United Kingdom.

“We must continue our support so the Ukrainians can continue their fight for freedom and independence,” the minister added.

June 30, 2022
EPL : Erling Haaland reveals why he chose Manchester City

Norway and Manchester City striker, Erling Haaland, has explained why he chose Manchester City ahead of every other suitors.

Manchester City has already confirmed the Norwegian after passing medicals and putting pen to paper.

The 21-year-old has signed a five-year deal at the Etihad Stadium.

“You can’t help but admire their style of play, it’s exciting and they create a lot of chances, which is perfect for a player like me,” Haaland told City’s website.

The Norway international also hailed Pep Guardiola as “one of the greatest managers of all-time”.

He added: “I want to score goals, win trophies, and improve as a footballer and I am confident I can do that here. This is a great move for me, and I can’t wait to get started in preseason.”

June 13, 2022
US military plane with four on board crashes in Norway

MV-22 Ospreys from VMM-261 “The Raging Bulls”

at Harstad Port in Harstad, Norway, on Feb. 19, 2022.

Katrina Herrera / U.S. Marine Corps via DVIDS file

A U.S. military aircraft that was said to have four service members aboard crashed during a NATO exercise in Norway, officials said Friday.

The Marine MV-22 Osprey went missing during an extreme weather exercise called Cold Response but has since been located. It was not clear what condition it was in, a U.S. military official said.

Weather prevented a helicopter from landing at the crash site, and the condition of those aboard was not clear, the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre North Norway said.

“We’ve discovered an aircraft that has crashed. We’ve seen no sign of life,” Nordland police chief of staff Bent Eilertsen told Reuters.

Emergency services were working to send a rescue team, the coordination center said.

The Osprey, which is a tilt-rotor aircraft, was taking part in a cold weather exercise and there was bad weather at the time of the incident, the U.S. official said.

The II Marine Expeditionary Force said in a statement it was aware of the incident, which is being assessed.

“Norwegian civil authorities are leading the search and rescue efforts at this time,” it said. “We are grateful for their efforts and will assist them … in all manners possible.”

The plane was on a training exercise and had been due to land at around 1800 CET (1700 GMT). Weather was bad in the area, with conditions worsening.

March 19, 2022