Columns / The Foreigner — Norwegian News in English

Norwegian nationalism probed

COMMENTARY: In the evening of Tuesday, 17 April, some sixty academics and students assembled on the fourth floor of the venerable Armémuseum (“Army Museum”) in Stockholm, an enormous building…

Published on 16th May, 2013 at 17:20
by M. Michael Brady.
Last Updated on 16th May 2013 at 17:39.

The tiny Norwegian satellite with a giant job, a space success story

Norway’s AISSat-1 Nano satellite marked its thousandth day in orbit just a month ago on 9 April. It had orbited the Earth more than 14,500 times in those thousand days, registering 30,000 ships…

Published on 9th May, 2013 at 11:25
by M. Michael Brady.
Last Updated on 9th May 2013 at 11:41.

Letter to the Editor regarding Norway foreign students column

I disagree with several issues that Paul Beaumont advocates in “Foreign students: Benefit or burden to Norway?” (April 14, 2013). In part, his logic is faulty; in full, his evidence is lacking.

Published on 7th May, 2013 at 20:27
by W.S. Warner.

Journey to the end of a road: Norway’s new National Transport Plan

COMMENTARY: The Swedes are building roads that provide economic gains for society, but the roads built in Norway are often roads for roads’ sake.

Published on 7th May, 2013 at 14:21
by Asgeir Ueland.
Last Updated on 7th May 2013 at 14:51.

Norwegians don’t save money with heat pumps

Very few Norwegian homes had heat pumps ten years ago. One home in four has one now, but it has become an economic paradox.

Published on 5th May, 2013 at 08:44
by M. Michael Brady.

No climate for trains in Norway?

I write this column on an inexplicably delayed train in England. Other common adjectives for the UK's train system include rickety, slow, cramped, and unreliable.

Published on 4th May, 2013 at 20:46
by Ilan Kelman.

Norway and its WWII pilots’ bravery

There are many famous Norway-Britain Second World War stories, including the Rjukan heavy water plant sabotage attempts. Some of Norway’s pilots also made a vital contribution to Allied efforts.

Published on 3rd May, 2013 at 12:59
by Tor Idar Larsen.
Last Updated on 3rd May 2013 at 20:14.

Aquavit, a favourite tipple

Aquavit is the traditional Scandinavian tipple. Related to but distinctly different from vodka and gin, it’s flavoured with spices and most often is taken straight.

Published on 1st May, 2013 at 17:16
by M. Michael Brady.
Last Updated on 2nd May 2013 at 09:31.

Exotic Norwegian dishes

Every country has its traditional dishes, most reflecting rural roots in times past. Some of Norway’s specialities range from the fairly plain to perhaps the somewhat unappetizing for some.

Published on 28th April, 2013 at 08:36
by M. Michael Brady.
Last Updated on 28th April 2013 at 21:23.

The Norwegian cheese that stands alone

Norwegian brown cheese and its various varieties and offspring siblings is in a class by itself.

Published on 27th April, 2013 at 11:01
by M. Michael Brady.
Last Updated on 28th April 2013 at 08:39.

The rise of au-pairs and spoiled Norwegians

COMMENTARY: Is the sharp increase in the number of au-pairs, mainly from the Philippines, turning Norway back to days long gone by?

Published on 24th April, 2013 at 13:00
by Asgeir Ueland.
Last Updated on 24th April 2013 at 14:45.

Asylum debate in Norway down the toilet

EDITORIAL: Good times in Norway’s oil capital region seem to have constipated the thoughts in Stavanger Aftenblad readers’ heads. As asylum seekers must endure poor living conditions in the…

Published on 22nd April, 2013 at 16:58
by Michael Sandelson.
Last Updated on 23rd April 2013 at 14:04.

Kale tale, a vegetable comeback

Kale, a hardy, commonplace cabbage variety cultivated under WWII in Norwegian and UK home gardens and allotment plots, is now enjoying a revival after falling out of fashion.

Published on 21st April, 2013 at 09:41
by M. Michael Brady.

Nuking our future generations and their energy

Nuclear energy is presented as the solution to our energy woes every few years, it seems. Yet the waste from nuclear power has been particularly concerning.

Published on 20th April, 2013 at 10:35
by Ilan Kelman.

Great expectations and Norway’s National Transport Plan

The government’s latest NTP is big, extensive, expensive. Officials aim to get more people where they want to go.

Published on 17th April, 2013 at 12:43
by M. Michael Brady.
Last Updated on 17th April 2013 at 22:54.

Bieber's hits Justin Norway

COMMENTARY: Two words unveil that the teenage hysteria that hit Norway a couple of days ago is media hysteria as well.

Published on 16th April, 2013 at 17:11
by Tove Andersson.
Last Updated on 16th April 2013 at 18:42.

Foreign students: Benefit or burden to Norway?

Sweden, Denmark and Germany are the latest countries to start charging fees to foreign students. Norway increasingly appears like a last beacon of kindness; or a beacon of stupidity if you take the…

Published on 14th April, 2013 at 08:51
by Paul Beaumont.
Last Updated on 7th May 2013 at 20:33.

Surrogacy in Norway a touchy issue

Labor’s (Ap) Health Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has no intention of changing Norway’s anti-surrogacy laws. Nevertheless Norwegians travel to other countries to rent a womb, or ‘shopping in baby…

Published on 10th April, 2013 at 15:26
by Tove Andersson.
Last Updated on 13th April 2013 at 12:07.

Why Europe doesn’t smile when we say cheese

This winter marked a milestone in the history of Norwegian protectionism. EU representatives have been provoked over the last weeks and months by the Norwegian government’s decision to change the…

Published on 9th April, 2013 at 09:38
by Nikola Astrup.
Last Updated on 9th April 2013 at 10:05.

Are Norwegians sick, crazy, or just too good?

Self-harm, eating disorders, ADHD and nerve medicine is a part of everyday speech in the world’s happiest country. Older people get overmedicated and a survey shows that over a million Norwegians…

Published on 7th April, 2013 at 08:47
by Tove Andersson.
Last Updated on 7th April 2013 at 22:17.

Reaping the fruits of our disfavours?

Does growing strawberries north of the Arctic Circle perhaps mean that climate change is not so bad after all?

Published on 6th April, 2013 at 08:54
by Ilan Kelman.

Centrists draw bottles at dawn

COMMENTARY: Two of Norway’s leading Centre Party (Sp) politicians are battling out drinking time rules from their respective sides of the bar counter.