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https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/norway/oslos-politicians-go-all-out-for-ramadan/

Norway

Oslo’s politicians go all out for Ramadan

Published March 12, 2024 – By Editorial staff

Montage. Photo: Pexels/Thirdman, Wasielgallery/CC BY 3.0

Muslims are essential to what makes Oslo Oslo, according to city council president Eirik Lae Solberg.

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editorial@nordictimes.com

Oslo becomes the third major city in Europe to openly embrace Islam and publicly celebrate the Muslim holiday of Ramadan with special signage and lighting.

– This is an important symbol that Oslo stands for community, inclusion and diversity, says Eirik Lae Solberg, chair of the city council.

The City of Oslo's decision to celebrate Ramadan has attracted both support and reservations among the city's residents, reports Norwegian tabloid Verdens Gang (VG). Not surprisingly, support is strongest among the Muslim population.

The decision to become the next major city in Europe to openly take a stand for Muslim special interests comes in the wake of first London and then the German city of Frankfurt's decision to celebrate Ramadan, as reported by German tabloid magazine Bild.

"Important symbol"

Chairman of Oslo City Council Eirik Lae Solberg (Høyre) referred to London's initiative as an inspiration for Oslo and underlined the city's commitment to "being inclusive and appreciating diversity".

– You are a very important part of the diversity that makes Oslo Oslo Oslo. Therefore, I am very happy that we now have Ramadan lights here at City Hall. It is an important symbol that Oslo stands for community, inclusion and diversity, Solberg said in her opening speech on Sunday afternoon.

A position that critics of the decision claim can be seen as a clear indication of increased Islamic influence in Norway.

Among other things, they argue that the city's decision to spend over NOK 1 million on Ramadan lighting can and should be questioned, especially when funds are taken from the Car-Free City Life initiative. There are also concerns that religious and cultural elements could be introduced into the city at the expense of its secular identity.

Some more vocal critics, such as the association Stop the Islamization of Norway (SIAN), burned a Koran outside the city's town hall during the opening to protest the decision.

Making Ramadan Great Again:@EWagensveld burning Quran with @wwwSIANno
outside parliament in Oslo yesterday. pic.twitter.com/9oHkRt1thg

— Imtiaz Mahmood (@ImtiazMadmood) March 10, 2024

"We are fortunate"

Oslo City Council member Lae Solberg (H) said the initiative "is an important symbol of community, inclusion and diversity". During the opening ceremony, this was further emphasized with speeches by representatives from Muslim organizations.

Not surprisingly, the Islamic Council of Norway has expressed its gratitude and joy for the City of Oslo's participation in the Ramadan celebrations. In his speech, Masoom Zubair from the Islamic Council of Norway praised the city's decision.

– We are fortunate to be part of this historic moment. It is with great joy, pride and gratitude that I stand here today to mark the fact that the City of Oslo wants to mark and celebrate Ramadan with all of us.

The Ramadan lights, which now illuminate Roald Amundsens gate and Fridtjof Nansens plass, will remain lit until April 8, when the month of fasting ends.

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https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/norway/three-out-of-ten-norwegian-adolescents-have-experienced-delusions-or-hallucinations/

Norway

Three out of ten Norwegian adolescents have experienced delusions or hallucinations

Published today 1:31 pm – By Editorial staff

Photo: Christopher Ott/Unsplash

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A new Norwegian study shows that a surprisingly large proportion of adolescents have experienced mild psychotic symptoms. Researchers emphasize that for most people, these experiences are transient but may signal underlying psychological vulnerability.

Nearly 30 percent of Norwegian adolescents report having experienced mild hallucinations or delusions at some point. This is revealed in a new large-scale study published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, which includes nearly 50,000 participants.

— It's a surprisingly large proportion of adolescents, says researcher Viktoria Birkenæs, one of those behind the study, to Norwegian state broadcaster NRK.

The study is based on survey responses from the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study – one of the world's largest health studies.

The data are evenly distributed between children and their parents, making it possible to compare generations.

Common to feel persecuted

The most common are paranoid delusions, such as feeling persecuted or monitored. Hallucinations, meaning hearing or seeing things that aren't there, are significantly less common, according to the research group.

The experiences vary greatly in both intensity and character. For some, it involves brief symptoms that don't significantly affect daily life, while others experience distressing episodes that greatly disrupt their functioning.

— Some people experience brief, transient symptoms that don't disturb them, while others have distressing experiences that greatly affect their daily lives, explains Birkenæs.

Sleep deprivation has an impact

For most people, these experiences occur during periods of high stress, strong emotions, sleep deprivation, or substance use.

When symptoms become so severe that they affect daily life, they can progress to serious clinical diagnoses. The study found no notable differences between genders.

Although the vast majority of those reporting such experiences don't develop mental disorders, psychotic symptoms at an early age can be a sign of underlying psychological vulnerability, according to Birkenæs.

— It may also indicate that some people are more sensitive to influences from their environment, which may require early interventions, she says.

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https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/norway/norwegian-dairy-giant-pauses-bovaer-after-reports-of-sick-cows/

Norway

Norwegian dairy giant pauses Bovaer after reports of sick cows

Published yesterday 11:34 am – By Editorial staff

Photo: iStock/Inge Nandrup-Bus

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editorial@nordictimes.com

The Norwegian dairy organization Norsk Melkeråvare has temporarily halted the use of the feed additive Bovaer. The decision comes following reports from Denmark about cows falling ill after receiving the additive, and Norwegian incidents have also been reported.

Arla's methane-reducing feed supplement began being introduced last year and today has been tested in countries including the United Kingdom, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. However, consumers have protested strongly against Bovaer, as the effects on animals and the final product remain unknown – many have therefore boycotted Arla or products from cows given Bovaer.

Recently, several dairy farmers in Denmark have raised alarms about their cows becoming sick after starting with Bovaer. Among them, farmer Huibert van Dorp recently reported that his cows became acutely ill, with one dying suddenly. He argues that the supplement violates animal welfare laws as it causes suffering to the animals.

"More knowledge"

Now the Norwegian dairy organization Norsk Melkeråvare has temporarily halted the use of the feed additive. This is partly due to the Danish farmers' warnings, but Norwegian milk producers have also reported incidents.

"We have decided to pause until we have more knowledge", writes Norsk Melkeråvare according to All About Feed, which emphasizes that the decision is based on the precautionary principle.

In November, a major British study concluded in which Arla tested the supplement on 30 dairy farms, but the results have not yet been evaluated.

A new meeting regarding the matter will be held in January between the milk producer and the contracting parties, according to the Norwegian government.

In Sweden, Bovaer is used by a number of farms, but many have chosen to forgo the supplement. On Mejerikollen, consumers can find a guide to which companies use the so-called climate-smart supplement.

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https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/norway/norwegian-mayor-raises-alarm-over-refugee-policy/

Norway

Norwegian mayor raises alarm over refugee policy

Migration crisis in Europe

Published November 21, 2025 – By Editorial staff

Photo: iStock/Sinicakover

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Four out of five kroner in social assistance goes to refugees in the Norwegian city of Sarpsborg. Now the municipality's mayor is criticizing Norway's integration policy and calling it a failure, citing a new municipal report.

In the Norwegian city of Sarpsborg, with approximately 60,000 inhabitants, a new municipal report has revealed figures sparking debate. A full 79.1 percent of the financial social assistance paid out during 2024 went to refugees.

Mayor Magnus Arnesen from the Conservative Party (Høyre) is now taking a strong stance against the Norwegian state's integration policy.

— The municipal director presents figures that I believe show that integration policy in Norway is not working. It is inadequate, the mayor tells Norwegian state broadcaster NRK.

The report also shows that half of the immigrants in the municipality have a refugee background, compared to one-third at the national level. Over the past 15 years, the number of immigrants in Sarpsborg has increased by 132 percent, from 6,115 to 15,140 people.

According to Arnesen, the problems are partly due to how the Norwegian refugee reception system is designed. Refugees granted residence permits are initially settled in a municipality but are free to move after five years without losing their introduction benefits.

Many then choose to move to larger cities like Sarpsborg, Fredrikstad, or Drammen – so-called secondary settlement. The problem is that they arrive without work and without the state funding that municipalities receive for primary settlement.

Disagrees

This week, Labor and Integration Minister Kjersti Stenseng from the Labor Party (Arbeiderpartiet) met with the mayors of Sarpsborg and Fredrikstad to discuss the problems.

But she disagrees with Arnesen that integration policy has failed.

— No, I don't agree with that. We have many good examples of people who come to this country, learn the language, and find work, says Stenseng.

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https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/norway/norwegian-experts-sound-alarm-over-weight-loss-medication/

Norway

Norwegian experts sound alarm over weight-loss medication

Published November 18, 2025 – By Editorial staff

Photo: iStock/Douglas Cliff

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

More and more people are using weight-loss medications to lose weight. Now Norwegian experts are sounding the alarm that these drugs may trigger a new form of eating disorder – a so-called "dieting disorder" where patients become trapped in destructive behavior.

The use of various weight-loss medications has increased in many countries recently, with drugs like Wegovy and the type 2 diabetes medication Ozempic increasingly being used for weight loss. These drugs have gained traction because they contain semaglutide, which increases the feeling of satiety.

Danish experts have previously warned that this type of medication can worsen and even trigger various types of eating disorders, with a larger proportion of patients taking the medication in a destructive manner. Now Norwegian experts in the field are also stepping forward, noting that there is an entirely new patient group – those who cannot stop taking weight-loss medications.

— We're getting quite a few people coming to us after having taken weight-loss medication for a while who say they can no longer control it themselves, but they don't dare stop taking the medication because they will then gain weight, says psychologist Bente Sommerfeldt to Norwegian state broadcaster NRK.

"Dieting disorder"

Sommerfeldt specializes in eating disorders and says that more and more people in the field are talking about how the growing market for obesity medications has triggered what may become a new diagnosis.

— We are on the verge of getting yet another eating disorder, which we might call dieting disorder.

General practitioners also see risks with the use of weight-loss medication and believe that there is currently no good method for actually stopping it once you've started.

— At present, we have no good method for stopping this medication. The most important thing is therefore that we speak clearly with patients, says Torgeir Hoff Skavøy, who is chairman of the Norwegian Association of General Practitioners.

Cathrine M Lofthu, who heads the Norwegian Directorate of Health, says they take the experts' warnings very seriously and that we must recognize this is a social problem.

— We have created a society where it is difficult to make good choices, she says.

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