Oslo (Norway), Nov 18 : Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr Anbumani Ramadoss, who is on official visit to Norway met the Prime Minister of Norway Jens Stoltenberg at Oslo today and discussed issues pertaining to health sector cooperation between the two countries.

During this meeting, Dr. Ramadoss highlighted implementation of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), Imunisation Programme, maternal and child health programme, tobacco control measures, HIV/AIDS in India.

Stoltenberg appreciated Dr Ramadoss on the NRHM and the reduction in Maternal mortality ratio in India.

Oslo - Norway was set to introduce a European Union directive aimed at liberalising services despite a split in the red-green coalition, Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday.

"The service directive is good and important for Norway and will contribute to equal, secure and predictable rules for Norwegian companies," Stoltenberg told reporters.

Although Norway is not a member of the EU, it cooperates closely with the 27-nation bloc as member of the European Economic Area (EEA).

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.