How Norway's Prisons Are Different from America's | NowThis

Aug 6, 2020 | NORWAY'S PRISON SYSTEM: ‘The most important thing is how we treat people’ — Norway has developed a prison system that looks a bit different from that in the U.S., which has the world’s largest incarcerated population.

Norwegian Princess Quits Royal Duties to Work with ‘Shaman’ Fiancé

THE GUARDIAN: Princess Märtha Louise will focus on alternative medicine alongside spiritual guru Durek Verrett

Princess Märtha-Louise’s relationship with ‘sixth-generation shaman’ Durek Verrett has caused waves in Norway. Photograph: Lise Åserud/NTB/AFP/Getty Images
Princess Märtha Louise of Norway has relinquished her royal duties to focus on her alternative medicine business with her fiance, a self-proclaimed shaman, the palace has said.

The 51-year-old princess’s relationship with Durek Verrett, a Hollywood spiritual guru, caused waves in Norway after the “sixth-generation shaman” suggested in his book Spirit Hacking that cancer was a choice.

He also sells a medallion on his website labelled a “Spirit Optimizer”, which he claims helped him overcome Covid-19.

A poll in September found 17% of Norwegians now have a lower opinion of the generally popular royal family, nearly all citing the princess and the shaman as the reason. » | Agence France-Presse in Oslo | Tuesday, November 8, 2022

Norwegian Princess Engaged to a Shaman Gives Up Her Royal Duties: Princess Martha Louise’s belief in the supernatural has long been the subject of media fascination in Norway, but a focus on her healer fiancé proved too much. »

What's It Like Living in Norway 🇳🇴?

Apr 29, 2022 • The reality in 🇳🇴:

- Health care is a right
- College is tuition-free
- Guaranteed 28 days of paid vacation
- One year of fully-paid parental leave

A government that looks out for the needs of its people — not such a radical idea.

Kongsberg: Deadly Bow and Arrow Attack Suspect in Norway Had Converted to Islam

A man arrested over a bow and arrow attack in Norway in which five people died had converted to Islam police have said.

The 37-year-old Danish citizen is accused of the killings of four women and a man on Wednesday night in the southern town of Kongsberg.

He was arrested and questioned for several hours overnight.

Iyad el-Baghdadi: In the 'Crosshairs' of Saudi Government | Talk to Al Jazeera

Just a few months after journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, another Arab dissident says his life is also in danger.

Iyad el-Baghdadi is a pro-democracy activist and strong critic of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The UK's Guardian newspaper reported that Norwegian officials took him from his home in Oslo to a secure location. There, he was told the CIA had warned Norway's government the Saudis had him "in their crosshairs".

El-Baghdadi gained popularity during the Arab Spring when he posted pro-human rights messages on social media. The Palestinian activist was granted asylum in Norway four years ago after being expelled from the United Arab Emirates for criticising Middle Eastern regimes.

In an exclusive interview, Iyad el-Baghdadi discusses an unlikely friendship with the murdered ‘Washington Post’ journalist Jamal Khashoggi and how continuing Khashoggi's work has made him a target of the Saudi government.

Iyad el-Baghdadi Faces Threat from Saudi Arabia | Al Jazeera English

A Palestinian activist who was warned by the Norwegian government of a possible threat against him from Saudi Arabia is holding a press conference for the first time.

Iyad el-Baghdadi was told that the threat had been passed on to Norwegian authorities by the United States Central Intelligence Agency. He was informed there could be several reasons why Saudi Arabia would target him.

Iyad was granted asylum in Norway four years ago and is a critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

CIA Warns Arab Activist of Potential Threat from Saudi Arabia

THE GUARDIAN: Pro-democracy campaigner İyad el-Baghdadi has been vocal critic of Saudi crown prince

The CIA has warned Norway that a prominent Arab activist who is living in the country under asylum protection is facing a potential threat from Saudi Arabia, the Guardian has learned.

The pro-democracy activist, İyad el-Baghdadi, is a vocal critic of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

El-Baghdadi was alerted to the threat on 25 April, when Norwegian authorities arrived at his doorstep, took him to a secure location, and warned him he was in possible danger from an unspecified threat emanating from the kingdom.

The activist was told the threat had been passed on to Norwegian authorities by a foreign intelligence agency, which the Guardian has confirmed was the CIA. » | Stephanie Kirchgaessner in Washington and Nick Hopkins in London | Tuesday, May 7, 2019

Mullah Krekar in Norway Gives Chilling and Honest Interview about Islam and the West

Mass Murderer Breivik Trying to Spread Radical Ideology in Norwegian Prison - Government Lawyers

Norwegian mass murderer Anders Breivik is working on spreading his ideology from prison through dating adverts, according to government lawyers

Inside the “World’s Most Humane” Prison

In Norway two prisons are using a pioneering approach to drugs rehabilitation which is now being closely watched by researchers from the UK to see if it can be introduced here. Simon Israel has this report.

Russell Square, London: American Woman Killed in Stabbing Spree

Norway's Muslim Immigrants Attend Classes on Western Attitudes to Women

Every asylum seeker in Norway must attend classes on female rights and respect for women. The lessons were made compulsory after a string of sex attacks by immigrants in the western city of Stavanger. With exclusive access to a class in action in the town of Moi, 65 miles south-east of Stavanger, Jenny Kleeman meets the students and asks whether western values can really be taught in a classroom

Norway: Huge Blaze Engulfs Refugee Accommodation Centre in Hemsedal

A reception centre for refugees burned down in a massive blaze in the Norwegian municipality of Hemsedal, early on Wednesday morning. The fire comes as arson attacks continue to dog migrant accommodation across Scandinavia.

Former Nobel Official: Obama Prize Failed to Achieve Goals

President Obama receiving his prize in 2009

YNET NEWS: Breaking with official tradition, the former secretary of the Nobel Peace Prize says Obama failed to live up to the panel's expectations.

In a break with Nobel tradition, the former secretary of the Nobel Peace Prize committee says the 2009 award to President Barack Obama failed to live up to the panel's expectations.

Geir Lundestad writes in a book released on Thursday that the committee had expected the prize to deliver a boost to Obama. Instead the award was met with fierce criticism in the US, where many argued Obama had not been president long enough to have an impact worthy of the Nobel.

"Even many of Obama's supporters believed that the prize was a mistake," Lundestad wrote in excerpts of the book read by The Associated Press. "In that sense the committee didn't achieve what it had hoped for." » | AP | Friday, September 19, 2015

Isis Shows Hostages 'For Sale': Militants Claim to Have Captured Norwegian and Chinese Nationals

THE INDEPENDENT: The Norwegian government has confirmed one of its citizens is being held in Syria, but says 'Norway does not pay ransom'

The Isis militant group claims it has taken a Norwegian and a Chinese man as hostages, and has posted notices describing the two men as “for sale” in the latest edition of its propaganda magazine.

Pictures of the men dressed in yellow jumpsuits appeared in the final pages of the 11th edition of “Dabiq”, an online English-language magazine released by the group’s media arm.

In what it describes as a “limited time offer”, Isis names the men along with details of their ages and occupations and provides a telegram number. It says: “Whoever would like to pay the ransom for his release and transfer can contact the following.” » | Adam Withnall | Thursday, September 10, 2015

More Norwegians Convert to Islam

NEWSinENGLISH.no: Youthful rebellion and, paradoxically, a perceived need for stronger rules in Norway’s liberal society are believed to be behind a recent rise in the number of Norwegians converting to Islam. “I think we need stronger rules,” one young Norwegian convert told newspaper Aftenposten on Monday.

No one knows for certain how many “ethnic Norwegians” have converted to Islam, according to Aftenposten, but researchers believe their numbers have increased from around 500 at the end of the 1990s to around 3,000 today. That’s still a tiny percentage of the Norwegian population, but the growth rate is significant, as is the perceived reason behind it: “Converting to Islam is perhaps the most extreme form of youthful rebellion today,” Anne Sofie Roald, a professor in religion, told Aftenposten, which launched a series of reports over the weekend about Islam in Norway. Islam, Roald noted, is a religion that can require a lifestyle for converts that’s “extremely different from the life they’ve lived earlier.” » | Nina Berglund | Monday, June 08, 2015

Hate-preacher Anjem Choudary’s Oslo Ally Calls Homosexuality ‘A Nasty, Cruel Disease’

BREITBART.COM: A Norwegian Islamist extremist with links to Anjem Choudary, the London-based hate preacher who wants to establish an Islamic state in Britain, has launched a Facebook campaign against the Europride festival in Oslo this week.

The Local reports that Ubaydullah Hussain was linked earlier this year with Egzon Avdyli, a 25-year-old from Oslo who was reported killed fighting in Syria with jihadist forces.

Following reports of Avdyli’s death, Hussain declared him a martyr in a Facebook post. Included in the post was a picture of Avdyli and Hussain standing on each side of Choudary. » | M. E. Synon | Tuesday, June 27, 2014

Exclusive: Norwegian Govt. Could Request Extradition of UK Islamist Anjem Choudary »

Barack Obama Aide Condemned Norway for 'Fawning' over President by Awarding Him Nobel Prize

The decision to give Obama the Nobel prize was met with
considerable derision and criticism

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Rahm Emanuel launched verbal assault on Norway's then ambassador after President was awarded peace prize early in his first term

A senior Norwegian diplomat says his country's former ambassador to the United States was given a verbal lashing by Barack Obama's chief of staff when the president was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009.

Morten Wetland said Thursday the ambassador, Wegger Stroemmen, was approached by Rahm Emanuel, now Chicago's mayor, who accused Norway of "fawning" to the newly elected U.S. leader.

Wetland, the Norwegian ambassador to the United Nations at the time, told The Associated Press he did not witness the dressing down but said there was an air of embarrassment in Washington that Obama had been given the award so early in his presidency. » | AP | Thursday, May 15, 2014

Norway Told to Go Easy on the Pastries

THE INDEPENDENT: Norwegians are being warned to watch their cinnamon intake during the festive season

Hold the pastries - Norway's Food Standards Authority has issued warnings to "heavy users" of cinnamon to watch their intake this Christmas as the festive season begins.

Cinnamon contains coumarin, a substance which can potentially cause liver damage if consumed in excessive amounts, according to the FSA.

This may mean cutting down on skillingsboller, a Danish cinnamon roll popular in Norway. » | Heather Saul | Thursday, December 12, 2013

Anders Breivik 'Apologised to Mother for Ruining Her Life'

Anders Breivik with half-sister, Elisabeth and mother, Wenche

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Anders Breivik apologised to mother Wenche Behring Breivik before she died, telling her he was sorry for ruining her life, biography 'The Mother' says

Anders Breivik, the Norwegian mass killer who killed 77 people, apologised to his mother for ruining her life before she died of cancer this year, a new book claims.

"The Mother", based on hours of conversations with Wenche Behring Breivik by journalist Marit Christensen and published on Thursday, says she once described herself as the world's "saddest mother" who both hated and loved her son.

She had no idea that he was planning the attacks on July 22, 2011, cooking him a dinner of spaghetti that got cold as she waited in vain for his return and watched the news of bombings and shootings by an unknown killer.

She broke down in tears when the police came to her house that night to say Anders Breivik was to blame for the massacre – a bombing in Oslo that killed eight and a shooting rampage on a nearby island that killed 69, many of them teenagers. » | Reuters | Thursday, October 31, 2013