Geneva - Norway is the country closest to closing the gaps between men and women, a new report released Wednesday by the World Economic Forum said.

Finland, Sweden and Iceland were the next ranking countries, according to the Gender Gap Index, with Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Chad and Yemen listing at the bottom of the 130 countries surveyed.

New Zealand was the top ranking non-European country, making it to fifth place, followed by the Philippines.

Oslo - Norwegian state-controlled energy group Statoil Hydro said Tuesday it has signed a 1.25-billion-dollar deal with US natural gas group Chesapeake Energy Corporation.

The deal gives Statoil Hydro a 32.5-per-cent stake in Chesapeake's Marcellus shale gas acreage in the Appalachia region, north-eastern US.

In addition to the 1.25-billion-dollar cash payment, Statoil was to pay 2.1 billion dollars for a 75-per-cent future stake for the drilling and completion of wells during the period
2009-12.

Oslo - A World War II wreck of a German submarine that sank off Norway loaded with 65 tons of mercury should be encased and not raised, the Norwegian Coastal Administration said Monday.

The wreck of U-864 was found in 2003. Since the discovery Norwegian authorities have investigated various options of raising or encasing the wreck since the cargo posed a potential threat to the marine environment.

In addition some 30,000 square metres of sea bottom around the wreck are regarded as polluted to a varying degree.

All 73 onboard died when a British submarine torpedoed U-864 in February 1945 as it was heading from Germany to Japan via Norway with war material including 65 tons of liquid mercury in steel containers.

Oslo - A Norwegian substance abuse clinic hired a clairvoyant after some of the patients experienced strange phenomena in the building, Oslo tabloid Dagbladet reported Thursday.

In addition to medium Lilli Bendriss, who has appeared on a Norwegian television programme called the Power of Spirits, a consultant was also hired, the report said.

Oslo/Reykjavik - Norway on Monday said it was prepared to consider extending a loan to cash-strapped Iceland, provided the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approves a 2.1-billion-dollar loan later this week.

The central bank of Norway said it has also extended a swap facility worth 500 million euros (630 million dollars) to the Icelandic central bank, or Sedlabanki.

The current loan agreement was signed in May and was due to expire in December, but will be extended to December 2009, Norges Bank said.

Oslo - Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit's physician has advised her to cancel public engagements for the coming two weeks, the palace said Monday.

The princess sustained a minor concussion after falling down some stairs during a visit to Ukraine last month, and has since been on sick leave.

The medical recommendation means that the princess will miss out on the upcoming functions to mark the 60th birthday of Britain's Prince Charles.