Oslo - House fires claimed ten lives across Norway this weekend, according to authorities.

Four bodies of people aged between 17 and 22 were found in the remains of a burned-out single-family home on the island of Hery on Sunday. The deceased had been attending a party in the house. Authorities said there might be further bodies, since 20 people had attended the party. No cause for the blaze had been established.

Oslo - Six people died in a fire in a residential building in the Norwegian capital Oslo early Saturday, possibly as a result of the fire alarm being switched off and the only emergency exit being nailed shut, according to the police.

Thirty-three residents of the building were caught unawares by the fire as most were asleep, the police said.

As the fire service arrived three minutes after the alarm was raised at 3:42 am, many of the mostly young residents were sitting dazed on window sills - some in just boxer shorts and T-shirts - waiting to be rescued by ladder.

Oslo  - The Norwegian whaling quota for next year was set at 885 minke whales, the Fisheries Ministry said Thursday. That compares with a quota of 1,052 whales for
2008.

Published reports suggested that 532 whales were caught during the 2008 whaling season that opened in April and ended in early September.

The ministry said 750 whales would be allowed to be caught in coastal areas including the North Sea, the Barents Sea and the area around Svalbard.

Oslo - A Norwegian bishop who wracked up huge personal debts in an effort to help his son who lost millions on online gambling said Wednesday he was to step down next year.

Bishop Ernst Baasland of the city of Stavanger, western Norway, and his wife were declared bankrupt in September.

Press reports have suggested the son, 34, lost some 60 million kroner (10 million dollars) on online gambling sites.

Both Baasland and his wife borrowed large sums from friends, acquaintances and banks to help the son. They said the loans were intended for the son's IT business leading to questions if they deceived the creditors.

Oslo - Martti Ahtisaari, Finland's former president and winner of the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize, said Tuesday he was receiving numerous calls to mediate in various conflicts but had "no concrete project."

Before stepping in as a mediator, one must make a "feasibility study," he told reporters in Oslo the day before he was to accept the prestigious award.

Athtisaari, 71, hinted that he had been approached about Sri Lanka.

Trondheim, Norway  - World Cup leader Anssi Koivuranta of Finland was in command to win the Nordic combined over 10 kilometres in Trondhein, Norway on Sunday.

Koivuranta enjoyed a 25.9-second advantage over second-placed Bjoern Kircheisen of Germany, with France's Jason Lamy Chappuis third, 34.6 seconds behind the Finn.

It was the second win of the season for Koivuranta, who led after the jump and finished in 24 minutes 41.9 seconds (138.0 points/24:41.9)