Opposed to arming Norwegian merchant ships
The Norwegian Shipowners Association has rejected a proposal to arm ships of the Norwegian merchant marine, in an effort to combat the problem of pirate attacks in the Bay of Aden and other troubled waters. Read more

Nucula discovery in the Barents Sea delineated
StatoilHydro has completed the drilling of an exploration well on the Nucula discovery, which is located around 110 kilometres east-northeast of the Goliat discovery in the Barents Sea. Read more

World's largest ferry operator Stena Line renews major maritime communications agreement with MCP
Maritime Communications Partner announced the renewal of a major 4-year management contract with the world-leading ferry operator, Stena Line for the deployment of maritime communications solutions onboard 16 passenger ferry vessels including two new super ferries. Read more

Closes Peregrino acquisition
StatoilHydro has successfully completed the full acquisition of the Peregrino heavy-oil field offshore Brazil, after closing the deal to acquire the additional 50% stake from Anadarko. Read more

Norway: exploration to fall off $600M in 2009
Oil companies exploring for oil and gas off Norway are expected to spend 29.1 billion kroner ($4.05 billion) turning the drill bit in 2009, a view 600 million kroner ($83.5 million) more pessimistic than the just months earlier. Read more

The Badger crawls to Norway
The geology on the test site for Badger Explorer's Demo50 tests in Denmark proved to be less suited than expected. The tests will now be moved and continued in Norway. Read more

Norway determined to reduce discards of fish
Following a recent observation of a foreign vessel discarding large quantities of fish caught within the Norwegian Exclusive Economic Zone, an act which is prohibited by law in Norway, the Government will now continue to push for an EU discard ban. Read more

SFF welcomes North Sea cod TAC increase
Welcoming the news in the early hours of this morning from the prolonged negotiations between the EU and Norway over jointly managed fish stocks that the Total Allowable Catch for the recovering stock of North Sea cod will be increased by 30 per cent, SFF chief executive Bertie Armstrong said: 'As usual, the figure for cod will make the headlines. Read more

Finance ministers get cold feet over EU stimulus plan
EU finance ministers have half-heartedly supported the broad terms of a proposed EU plan to fight off the ongoing recession, but removed references to the 200 billion euro figure initially put forward by the European Commission. Read more

Ministers back funds passport despite Commission reluctance 
Despite long-standing opposition from the European Commission, EU finance ministers backed the introduction of a so-called 'passport' for investment fund managers, aimed at cutting red tape and improving a funds market worth up to €7,000 billion. Read more

Ministers give green light to Small Business Act 
The bloc's industry ministers approved the Small Business Act (SBA), accompanied by an action plan to alleviate the immediate effects of the current economic crisis. Read more

A European "blue card" for highly-skilled immigrants
The EU's "blue card" plan to attract highly-skilled immigrants to take jobs in EU economic sectors suffering from skill shortages, modelled on the US "green card" system, needs clearer definitions, said the EP Civil Liberties Committee on Tuesday. Read more

VAT fraud: The European Commission presents an action plan to better combat VAT fraud
The European Commission adopted a Communication presenting a short term action plan with a list of future legislative measures to enhance the capacity of tax administrations to prevent or detect VAT fraud (in particular "missing trader fraud") and to recover taxes. Read more

Duty-free imports: New rules for travellers' allowances into the European Union from 1 December 2008
From 1 December 2008, new rules on tax and duty free imports enter into force. Travellers will benefit from cost savings when importing goods into the EU in their personal luggage. At the same time, Member States will avoid administrative costs currently involved in collecting small amounts of duties and taxes. Read more

Third quarter 2008 compared with third quarter 2007 Euro area labour costs rose by 4.0% EU27 up by 4.1%
Total hourly labour costs in the euro area (EA15) rose by 4.0% in nominal terms in the year up to the third quarter of 2008, compared with 2.8% for the previous quarter2. In the EU27, the annual rise was 4.1% up to the third quarter of 2008, compared with 3.6% for the previous quarter. Read more

Marketing Troms to British tourists
Vincent Rohde of Rohde Creative Ltd in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, has worked on a new brand for a British tour operator, Martins World, for their extensive holiday programme in Troms. Read more

The lights are on!
The 62nd Norwegian Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square was lit on Thursday 4 December during a ceremony watched by Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, and thousands of spectators. Read more

Norwegian Christmas in Scotland
The Norwegian Christmas events kick off on 15 November in Glasgow with a fair, followed by the lighting of a Christmas tree and a traditional concert in Edinburgh at the end of the month. Read more

Think aims to revolutionise car design
Norwegian electric carmaker Think is going to develop the car interior of the future in partnership with London’s prestigious Royal College of Art. Read more

Handball: Norway - Romania 37-31
Norway's women won 37-31 over Romania in their last match in the group play in the European Handball Championship 2008, at Ohrid Macedonia on Thursday. Norway led 19-14 at half-time. Read more

GBOB CHALLENGE: A world of music on your doorstep
After six months of competition and over 3,000 entries, 26 national winners will converge on London next month to play the GBOB Challenge - the Global Battle of the Bands 2008 World Finals at King's Cross Scala on December 14 and 15 2008. An event that is always great fun for bands and audience alike will see the overall winning band will receive an amazing prize of $100,000 cash. Read more

Norwegian ice-musician Terje Isungset will be performing live at the Lyric Hammersmith from 28 November to 3 January in Cinderella
An original score will be composed and performed live by internationally renowned Norwegian ice-musician, Terje Isungset, using instruments crafted from natural elements such as arctic birch, sheep bells and glacial ice to help transform the Lyric into a wonderful winter landscape. Read more

Clas Ohlson opens it UK flagship store south London
Clas Ohlson is the largest hardware and homeware chain store in Scandinavia.  It sells products for house and home, technology and hobbies. "We looked at several sites and we finally settled on Croydon, south London.” Read more

Hildegunn, Jeanette and Nina wish you a wonderful Christmas and lots of joy and happiness in 2009!

Members’ Forum with the Economist Intelligence Unit
Speaker: Ania Thiemann, Senior Editor/Economist
“The World Economy and what it means for Norway and the UK”