https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/norway/norwegian-schools-get-tougher-on-digital-devices/

Norway

Norwegian schools get tougher on digital devices

Published 21 October 2024

– By Editorial Staff

Photo: iStock/dolgachov

Nine out of ten primary school children in Norway use tablets in school.

Schools should introduce filters on tablets to protect students from harmful content, according to new recommendations from the Norwegian Ministry of Education.

Recently, Norway has issued recommendations on the use of private mobile phones by pupils at school, largely advocating a ban on mobile phones at school. However, nine out of ten pupils in public primary schools still use school-provided tablets, according to the Norwegian Directorate for Education.

It is now issuing new recommendations on what should be allowed for digital devices used in schools.

– It is untenable that students can access content such as violence and pornography. We also know that many students are disturbed by other content such as games and social media during class time, said Kari Nessa Nordtun, Norwegian Minister of Education, in a press release.

“Affects students’ safety”

All municipalities and county councils should have filters and blockers installed to protect children from harmful content. This should be on both the device and the school network, to protect the pupil from harmful content even if the device is taken home.

In primary schools, filters that only allow pre-approved content are recommended, but in secondary schools, schools should use filters that block unwanted content such as pornography.

Nordtun expects schools to follow the new recommendations.

– Digital tools in schools have been introduced without sufficient consideration of how they affect students’ learning and safety in everyday school life. “It has taken far too long for national politicians to address the situation. We are now doing so, said Nordtun.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/norway/stoltenberg-resigns-as-bilderberg-chief-becomes-norways-finance-minister/

Norway

Stoltenberg resigns as Bilderberg chief – becomes Norway’s finance minister

The globalist agenda

Published 5 February 2025

– By Editorial Staff

Photo: World Economic Forum/CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Jens Stoltenberg during the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Recently, former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg was appointed chairman of the influential Bilderberg Group’s steering committee.

Now the high-profile globalist is leaving the position to become Norwegian Finance Minister.

As recently as December, Stoltenberg was introduced as the new head of Bilderberg and claimed to be very pleased with his new assignment.

– In combination with the Munich Security Conference, this is a good platform for cooperation with leaders from politics, business and academia. It is also an important venue for strengthening ties between Europe and the United States. I look forward to contributing to the work of Bilderberg, he said.

However, he is now leaving that post – as it is not considered suitable to combine with a Norwegian ministerial role.

– Jens Stoltenberg has resigned as co-chairman of the Bilderberg Group due to his appointment as finance minister in the Norwegian government, a spokesman confirmed to Norwegian E24.

– I have declined everything else I would have said yes to and have informed everyone in different ways, says Stoltenberg, adding that he is “deeply honored to have been asked to help my country at this critical stage”.

The government collapsed

Stoltenberg’s appointment as new finance minister is due to the fact that the Norwegian government collapsed this week – something The Nordic Times also reported on. This after the Center Party chose to leave the government cooperation in protest against the failure to agree with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre’s Labor Party on the EU’s fourth energy package and issues related to the Norwegian electricity market.

Jens Stoltenberg has long been singled out as one of the European leaders most committed to continued escalation and war in Ukraine – while consistently dismissing diplomacy and dialogue as unrealistic and unreasonable options.

Although he will not be in charge of foreign policy issues, critics are therefore also expressing concern that his return to Norwegian politics could risk leading to further escalation and polarization in the region.

Stoltenberg previously served as leader of the Labour Party from 2002 to 2015 and as Prime Minister of Norway from 2000 to 2001 and again from 2005 to 2013.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/norway/norways-coalition-government-collapses-enough-is-enough/

Norway

Norway’s coalition government collapses: “Enough is enough”

Published 31 January 2025

– By Editorial Staff

Photo: Magnus Nordenberg/Norden.org/CC BY-NC 2.0

Jonas Gahr Støre is the Norwegian Prime Minister since October 2021.

The Center Party in Norway leaves the government after a disagreement with the Labor Party. The decision, taken at a lunch meeting on Thursday, was confirmed by Center leader Trygve Slagsvold Vedum.

At a meeting with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Center leader Trygve Slagsvold Vedum on Thursday, it became clear that the government cooperation between the parties can no longer continue.

– We say enough is enough, this is the limit, Vedum told VG.

The reason for the rift is said to be the EU’s fourth energy package, where the Labor Party has partly wanted to adopt the proposal while the Center Party opposed it.

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre canceled his other commitments during the day to try to find a solution.

– He is doing so to continue talks with the Center Party, with the aim of finding a solution, says State Secretary Kristoffer Thoner.

Despite the talks, the party leaders failed to reach an agreement. However, the resignation does not necessarily mean that Støre’s time as prime minister is over. According to media sources, the Labor Party can continue to govern as a single party in a minority government.

The next parliamentary elections are scheduled for September.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/norway/norwegian-deep-sea-mining-halted/

Norway

Norwegian deep-sea mining halted

Published 4 December 2024

– By Editorial Staff

Photo: Hendrik Borghorst/CC BY 2.0

The World Wildlife Fund calls seabed mining “madness”.

The Norwegian government is halting the handing out of licenses for seabed mining. Reportedly, the plans are temporarily hampered due to tough budget negotiations.

At the beginning of the year, the Norwegian Parliament voted in favor of so-called deep-sea mining, that is, mining on the seabed. The minerals they hoped to extract included cobalt, magnesium, nickel and copper. The decision was met with strong criticism, including from 120 MPs and MEPs from 19 different parliaments, who sent a letter to Norwegian politicians urging them to say no to mining.

Over the weekend, the Norwegian government negotiated the state budget for next year. There it was decided to postpone the planned mining, an initiative mainly driven by the Socialist Left (SV).

– We have stopped the plans to open up mining on the seabed, says party leader Kirsti Bergstø.

Only a pause

The Norwegian branch of WWF welcomes the decision. It had previously filed a lawsuit against the government over the deep-sea mining plans.

– The government rushed ahead, ignoring warnings from experts about significant knowledge gaps that made seabed mining indefensible. Fortunately, SV has recognized the seriousness of the situation and taken responsibility to stop the madness, said Karoline Andaur, Secretary General of WWF.

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre emphasizes that this is a pause in the plans, not a definitive stop to seabed mining.

– It will be a postponement and we have to be able to accept that, Støre told Norwegian TV 2.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/norway/norwegian-public-service-bleeds-90-jobs-to-go/

Norway

Norwegian public service bleeds – 90 jobs cut

Published 2 December 2024

– By Editorial Staff

Montage. Photo: Mahlum, Norwegian national broadcaster

One of NRK's main buildings

Norwegian public broadcaster NRK has to cut costs by 200 million kroner next year, which means, among other things, the loss of 70 to 90 full-time positions.

– This means that we will introduce a hiring freeze, refrain from replacing employees who leave or retire, and give our employees the opportunity to apply for severance pay, explains Vibeke Fürst Haugen, head of television.

According to Ms. Fürst Haugen, there are several reasons for the poor financial situation and the fact that costs are far too high in relation to the company’s revenues.

– This is partly due to the expensive period that we and many other organizations are in and the fact that the NRC has not been fully compensated for wage and price increases in recent years. At the same time, we are facing a technological transformation where we will replace our entire core technology. This is a major, long-term investment that we need to make now to secure our future operations.

The taxpayer-funded broadcaster will also cut travel, consultancy, digital services, overtime and administrative costs – but despite these savings, nearly 100 staff will have to leave.

“Leave no stone unturned”

– Between 70 and 90 full-time equivalent positions will be eliminated by 2025, and we intend to do this on a voluntary basis, Fürst Haugen continues.

However, she says that they don’t want to cut the channels’ content and programming for the sake of viewers and listeners, and that they are therefore very keen to implement the savings in other ways – if possible.

– We will therefore leave no stone unturned to find other ways to make savings. Our experience with the 2023 cost savings has been good, and I am confident that we will succeed. But I cannot rule out that the savings will also have an impact on the public offering.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Polaris of Enlightenment

Polaris of Enlightenment