Norway

Norwegian police union to strike

Norwegian police union to strikeOslo - Norwegian police officers were to stage a brief nationwide strike Thursday in protest against regulations for working hours, the main police union said Wednesday.

The Norwegian Police Federation and justice ministry have failed to settle differences over new regulations concerning working hours and time off.

The union was also angered that they were not allowed to take part in negotiations concerning these changes.

Norwegian Olympic ski-jump champion faces four-month ban

Norway, OsloOslo- Olympic ski-jump champion Lars Bystoel of Norway faces a four-month ban after testing positive for doping, the agency Anti-Doping Norway said Wednesday.

The agency's disciplinary body recommended the ban after a test conducted in connection with a competition at the end of November
2008 revealed traces of cannabis.

A panel in the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sport has yet to confirm the ban, a spokesman for Anti-Doping Norway told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

Norwegian aluminium group Norsk Hydro writes down assets

Norwegian aluminium group Norsk Hydro writes down assets Oslo - Norwegian aluminium group Norsk Hydro Wednesday said it was to write down assets worth 3.5 billion kroner (520 million dollars), citing "deteriorating market conditions and high input costs."

The cost was to impact the group's fourth-quarter 2008 results, which were due to be published February 18, the group said.

The group was also to reduce production.

Norway deplores "unacceptable suffering" for civilians in Sri Lanka

Sri LankaOslo - Norway on Tuesday said it was deeply concerned over the situation for civilians in Sri Lanka after the recent government offensive against Tamil rebels.

Earlier Tuesday, some 200 Tamils gathered outside the foreign ministry in Oslo calling for an end to the fighting.

"Norway condemns the ongoing warfare in Sri Lanka and the unacceptable suffering for civilians," Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store said in a statement.

Norwegian government launches economic package

Norway, OsloOslo- Norway on Monday launched an economic package totalling 20-billion-kroner (2.9 billion dollars) to counter the effects of the global downturn and growing unemployment.

Finance Minister Kristin Halvorsen told parliament the package was to "contribute to sustainable growth" and described it as "the most ambitious fiscal stimulus" in over 30 years.

The government forecasts zero growth this year - while the budget in October 2008 had estimated the economic growth at 2 per cent.

One adult killed in shooting near school in northern Norway

One adult killed in shooting near school in northern Norway

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