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2 days ago | 
thelocal.no | Robin-Ivan Capar
While it's widely known that running a red light as a driver is illegal, fewer people are aware that Norway is among the very few countries in the world where pedestrians are actually permitted to cross on a red signal, under certain conditions.
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2 days ago | 
thelocal.no | Robin-Ivan Capar
US-led NATO exercise Swift Response kicks off in Indre Troms
The multinational military exercise Swift Response officially began on Tuesday at Bardufoss in Indre Troms, northern Norway, marking the start of a large-scale training operation involving around 7,000 troops from NATO allied countries.
The exercise, led by the United States, is taking place across Norway, Latvia, Lithuania, and Sweden.
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1 week ago | 
thelocal.no | Robin-Ivan Capar
A sharp rise in mortgage applications, coupled with strong year-to-date price growth and faster sales, suggests prospective homebuyers in Norway should brace for increased competition in the coming months.
"We are seeing a significant increase in mortgage applications," Odd Hultmann, Director of Private Markets at Nordea, told the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) on Tuesday.
"The week after Easter was on par with the peak weeks earlier this year," Hultmann added.
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1 week ago | 
thelocal.no | Robin-Ivan Capar
Recent moves by the Trump administration have sparked alarm among US higher education leaders.
Over 500 university presidents signed a statement by the American Association of Colleges and Universities condemning "unprecedented government overreach" into academic affairs.
Budget slashes, ideological pressure, and uncertainty are driving researchers abroad, and Nordic countries are responding quickly.
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1 week ago | 
thelocal.no | Robin-Ivan Capar
A record month for Norwegian seafood exports
Norway continues to break records in seafood exports, with April 2025 seeing a total export value of 14.3 billion kroner, up 293 million kroner from the same month last year.
This marks the highest April export value ever recorded for the country's seafood sector.
The growth comes despite falling salmon prices, according to Christian Chramer, CEO of the Norwegian Seafood Council.
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2 weeks ago | 
thelocal.no | Robin-Ivan Capar
Norway's wealth tax has become a hotly debated political issue.
Originally designed as a tool for redistribution, the tax has increasingly drawn criticism from business leaders, entrepreneurs, and opposing politicians who argue it discourages investment and punishes private ownership.
The tax also hits asset-rich households who may not have the liquidity to easily pay the wealth tax every year.
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2 weeks ago | 
thelocal.no | Robin-Ivan Capar
Stoltenberg: Wealth tax here to stay, but open to improvements
Norway's Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg said the government had no plans to abolish the wealth tax, according to the newspaper Finansavisen. Responding to MP Alfred Bjørlo, Stoltenberg accentuated the tax's role in ensuring those with the most significant assets contribute the most.
He also noted there is little scientific evidence that the wealth tax hinders profitable investments.
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3 weeks ago | 
thelocal.no | Robin-Ivan Capar
With weather that can swing between all four seasons in a single day, especially in the east and the west of the country, Norwegians have developed a rich vocabulary to describe everything from glorious (and, at times, rare) sunshine to sideways sleet.
Whether making small talk or just surviving your first wet autumn, mastering these weather-related words and phrases will help you sound like a local – and understand what everyone else is complaining about.
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3 weeks ago | 
thelocal.no | Robin-Ivan Capar
For many international citizens, Norway holds a unique appeal – not just for its high quality of life and breathtaking landscapes but also for something more practical: the dream of home ownership.
Unlike many other Western countries where housing markets have spiralled into unaffordability, Norway still offers a pathway to owning a home that feels attainable, especially when compared to major cities in the UK, the US, or parts of continental Europe.
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3 weeks ago | 
thelocal.no | Robin-Ivan Capar
Thick fog grounds all flights at Bergen Airport
Due to extremely dense fog, Bergen Airport Flesland has been closed to all air traffic on Wednesday morning.
The last departure took off at 7.03 am, and the final arrival landed at 7.12 am.
"Right now, just before 8 am, the fog is so thick that planes simply have to wait," Avinor press officer Carita Storm Røsaasen said.
She added that the airport is currently operating under low-visibility procedures, requiring greater spacing between aircraft.
