Capital city politics, business, culture, and local events from Oslo
Stein Lier-Hansen, former head of Norway's powerful Norsk Industri, pleaded not guilty to aggravated corruption as his trial opened in Oslo. He faces charges of receiving 1.9 million kroner and causing 10.6 million in wrongful costs to the employer's federation. The high-stakes case challenges the integrity of Norway's business lobbying elite.
A former Young Guns gang leader has been sentenced to over three years in prison for 20 serious frauds and laundering 8.6 million kroner. The police investigation took a critical turn after the convict was shot in Oslo. The case highlights a growing trend of organized crime groups targeting elderly Norwegians through phishing scams.
A major trial in Oslo has begun under unprecedented media scrutiny and strict court-ordered reporting restrictions. The prosecution warns of sanctions for any breach, testing Norway's balance between open courts and victim privacy. The seven-week case will be a landmark for judicial procedure under the global spotlight.
An apartment in Oslo's historic St. Hanshaugen district sold for 21.5 million kroner, 6.5 million over its asking price. The sale highlights intense competition and rising values in Norway's capital real estate market.
Norway's Government Quarter just finished under budget, but now 5 million kroner is being spent to dig up the new plaza for a July 22 memorial. The planning oversight highlights costly coordination gaps in public projects. Read how this impacts Oslo's reconstruction and future planning.
A new index shows it's harder for Norwegian nurses to buy a home despite pay rises. In Oslo, a nurse can afford just 1 in 35 sold homes, while Trondheim offers a brighter picture thanks to more housing construction.
A knife attack in an Oslo apartment hospitalized one person and led to a police arrest. The incident raises questions about violent crime trends in Norway's capital. Read the full story for details on the response and implications.
Marius Borg Høiby, son of Norway's crown princess, faces serious drug charges involving 3.5kg of marijuana. The case tests legal boundaries and royal family privacy in Oslo. Read our full analysis of the implications for Norway's monarchy and drug laws.
Police in Oslo used a spike strip to stop a motorhome driving the wrong way on the E6 after a chase from Lillestrøm. The suspect is in health care custody; no injuries were reported. The incident highlights the dangers posed by wrong-way drivers on major highways.
Norway's cut to the VAT limit on electric cars has sparked record sales and widened tax-free options for 2026. The policy, lowering the threshold to 300,000 kroner, reflects Oslo's push for zero-emission mobility amid its oil economy. Buyers now face an unprecedented selection of affordable electric models.
The US has imposed 10% tariffs on Norwegian imports starting February 1, escalating to 25% in June over Greenland tensions. Norway's oil, gas, and seafood sectors face immediate risks, with political leaders in Oslo scrambling to respond. This trade move threatens decades of Arctic cooperation and economic stability in the Nordic region.
Oslo Central Station shuts down all train traffic for a full 24 hours this weekend for critical electrical work, causing widespread cancellations across Norway's rail network. Bane Nor urges passengers to check travel plans and avoid non-essential trips to the capital. The closure highlights the ongoing challenge of modernizing aging infrastructure while maintaining public mobility.
Oslo will host a Nordic investors retreat in June, focusing on ESG and alternative asset allocation for institutional and private wealth leaders. The event highlights Norway's central role in sustainable finance discussions, often linked to its oil-funded sovereign wealth fund.