Norway voices strong opposition to Israel’s new Gaza plan, report shows part of Norwegian youth unhappy at school with bullying on the rise, and other news from the country on Monday.
Norway condemns Israel’s planned escalation in Gaza
Norway, alongside seven other European countries, has issued a joint statement condemning Israel’s plan to intensify its military operations and occupation in Gaza.
The declaration, released on Sunday, was signed by the foreign ministers of Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia, and Spain, in addition to Norway.
The criticism follows Israel’s announcement that it will assume control of Gaza City.
The signatories warn that such an operation would deepen the humanitarian crisis, jeopardise the safety of Israeli hostages, and displace nearly one million Palestinians.
Ungdata report: Norwegian youth content with life, but some are struggling at school
A new Ungdata report revealed a mixed picture of life for Norwegian youth: while most are generally satisfied with life, some are unhappy at school, and bullying is on the rise.
The survey shows that 13 percent of young people report being “quite bothered” by loneliness, while 9 percent say they are “very bothered.”
Feelings of loneliness are consistent across age groups but occur more often among girls than boys.
The report also highlighted the high proportion of young people spending significant amounts of time on screens each day.
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Oil fund paid over 3 billion kroner to external managers in 2024
Norway’s Government Pension Fund, often called the oil fund, spent more than 3 billion kroner on external managers in 2024, according to figures reported by the business newspaper E24.
The fund employed 106 external managers last year, marking an increase compared to recent years.
These payments accounted for around 40 percent of the fund’s total investment management costs, which reached 7.4 billion kroner in 2024, up 800 million kroner from the previous year, the fund stated in its annual report.
The oil fund said it increasingly relies on external managers in countries with underdeveloped financial markets.
Fees for these managers rise when they deliver strong performance and returns.
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US bombers return to Norway for joint training
American bombers from Dyess Air Force Base in Texas have arrived in Norway to train alongside Norwegian and allied forces.
The deployment marks their return to Ørland Air Station, where they first conducted training missions in 2021.
During their stay, the aircrews will take part in a series of allied-led exercises, practising a variety of mission types designed to strengthen cooperation and operational readiness between Norway, the United States, and other partner nations.
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Nordic and Baltic nations reaffirm “unwavering support” for Ukraine
The Nordic and Baltic countries pledged their continued and “unwavering support” for Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s invasion in a joint statement issued on Sunday.
“Peace can only be achieved through a combination of focused diplomacy, unwavering support for Ukraine, and sustained pressure on Russia to end its illegal war,” the statement read.
The nations vowed to stand by Ukraine, supporting its independence and territorial integrity as the war continues.