Oslo - Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store flew Tuesday to New York to attend a meeting of the UN Security Council on the crisis in Gaza.

Store is currently chair of an international donors group for the Palestinians, known as Ad Hoc Liaison Committee.

Oslo has joined calls for an end to the violence and urged Israel to halt its recent ground offensive in Gaza.

Norway was also to review its holdings in companies that have operations in Israel and the Palestinian territories against the backdrop of the increased violence, Finance Minister Kristin Halvorsen said.

Oslo - Over 150 passengers and crew were safely evacuated Tuesday from a ferry that ran aground in Norway's Trondheim harbour, police and officials said.

The decision to evacuate came after the Norwegian vessel, MS Richard With began taking in water amid strong winds.

The coast guard, emergency services, police and local volunteers helped with the rescue operation. All 153 passengers and four crew had by noon, local time, left the ship. Most had to climb down a long ladder to the quay. There were no reports of injuries.

Oslo - British singer Amy Winehouse has been served a summons to an appeals court hearing in Norway in January, the Norwegian online newspaper Nettavisen reported Wednesday.

In October 2007, the soul singer, her husband Blake Fielder-Civil and another member of her entourage spent a night in police custody after a small amount of marijuana was found in a hotel room while she was on tour in Bergen, western Norway.

The three accepted a fine but subsequently appealed the fine. A likely reason offered was that they wanted to avert potential problems when visiting the United States.

Oslo - Norwegians should prepare for a drawn-out economic crisis, Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said Friday.

The effects of the current financial crisis were likely to continue well into next year, he warned.

"Unemployment is increasing, many companies are struggling and the bank and credit markets are not functioning normally," he said.

Stoltenberg said the global economic situation was "serious" and the downturn was the worst in decades.

Oslo - The Norwegian central bank on Wednesday cut its lead rate a further 1.75 percentage points to 3.00 per cent, which was in line with market expectations.

The new cut takes effect Thursday, the central bank said.

The decision to lower rates was taken against the backdrop of weaker growth in Norway and internationally since the end of October, Norges Bank Deputy Governor Jan F Qvigstad said in a statement.

Meanwhile, "inflation is subsiding faster than expected," he added.

Oslo - Norway has decided to contribute a field hospital to the incoming United Nations mission in Chad, the Norwegian Defence Ministry said Tuesday.

The UN Mission known as MINURCAT II will also comprise neighbouring Central African Republic, and was due to begin as of March 15 next year when a European Union force leaves the region.

The UN mission was aimed at protecting civilians living in and near refugee camps, and also to protect aid workers in eastern Chad.