"Norway's Stoltenberg wins second term in office" (Jordan Times 16 September 2009 paper version)
"Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg declared victory on Tuesday for the centre-left in a tight parliamentary election and pledged to maintain his economic policy course and start coalition talks with partners.With 99.9 percent of votes counted, Stoltenberg's coalition holds a slim but unassailable majority in parliament over the centre-right opposition, which had tried to woo voters with promises of tax cuts and more private initiative in the economy.The result showed voters credited Stoltenberg with steering his oil producing country through the global downturn and an active government role in promoting full employment. (...)"
For full text: http://in.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idINLF24588720090915?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0
"Controversial Norwegian referee returns to Champions League" (Jordan Times 15 September 2009 paper version)
"Controversial Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo, hounded by Chelsea fans after his performance in last season's Champions League semi-final against Barcelona, is set to return to the competition, the Football Association of Norway said on Monday. (...) During the ill-tempered clash between Chelsea and Barcelona in London on May 6, Ovrebo drew the ire of disgruntled English fans after he turned down four strong penalty appeals from the Premier League side. After an injury-time equaliser from Barcelona sent the London side crashing out of the competition on away goals, the Norwegian referee became a target for irate Chelsea striker Didier Drogba following the final whistle. Ovrebo received death threats from Chelsea supporters after the game, forcing him to go into hiding."
"Pettersen wins Canadian Open" (Jordan Times 8 September 2009 paper version)
"Suzann Pettersen captured her first win of 2009 and sixth LPGA Tour victory bu shooting a one-under 70 in the final round of the Canadian Women's Open on Sunday. Norway's Pettersen finished with a 15-under 269 total to place five strokes ahead of five others, including Japan's Momoko Ueda (65) and Ai Miyazato (67). 'It feels really good to win this one after last week's loss in the playoff,' she said. (...) The 28-year-old form Oslo and five-time Norwegian amateur champ has been playing much better in recent weeks, losing a playoff last week in Portland. (...)"
Review of Leif Ove Andsnes' "Shadows of Silence" in Jordan Times (6 Sep 2009):
“Shadows of Silence” is a new CD release by EMI Classics guaranteed to take the listener far from the traditional classical music of Bach, Mozart, Beethoven and Chopin. This is the 20th first century after all and there are wonderful new sonic horizons to explore there. (...) Norwegian pianist Leif Ove Andsnes is at the core of the album. He is accompanied by the Bayern Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra conducted by Franz Weiser-Möst. Andsnes was recently hailed as being the “most accomplished pianist of the new generation” by the prestigious New York Times. He blends depth, sensitivity with a flawless technique. Few pianists would have been a choice as good as him for the kind of modern music on “Shadows of Silence”. (...) Tribute must be paid to the brilliant performance of the orchestra who succeeds in an exceptionally clear, intelligent interpretation of music that is very difficult technically speaking. What makes the difference, however, is Andsnes piano part. Without him the pieces would not mean the same thing. They would be cryptic contemporary classical music without a soul or a heart. Andsnes gives them both."
For full review: http://www.jordantimes.com/?news=19755&searchFor=leif%20ove
"Norway fund drops Israeli company" (Jordan Times 4-5 September, paper edition)
"Norway said it ejected Israel's Elbit Systems from its massive wealth fund for supplying surveillance equipment for the West Bank separation barrier, drawing an angry response from Israel on Thursday. Yossi Gal, the director-general at Israel's foreign ministry, has summoned the Norwegian ambassadorover thhe matter and has exoressed Israel's protest against the action, an Israeli foreign ministry spokesman said. (...) 'We do not wish to fund compnies that so directly contributes to violations of international humanitarian law,' Finance Minister Kristin Halvorsen said of the decision. She said freedom of movement by Palestinians had been 'unacceptably resticted' by the barrier, which cuts across the West Bank, one of the Palestinian territories seized by Israeli forces in 1967. (...)"
"Norway vote may break Lofoten drilling gridlock" (Jordan Times 4-5 September, paper edition)
"Norway's election next month offers a chance to break years of gridlock over oil and gas activities in the pristine Lofoten region, one of the last major stretches of Norwegian coastal waters shut for exploration. Drilling off the picturesque archipelago, which juts into the North Atlantic above the Arctic circle, has for years been blocked by vehement opposition by smaller political parties that have played king-makers in fractured Norwegian parliaments. The oil industry says it needs to tap Lofoten waters -- the most prospective region remaining off Norway and seen containing 2 billion barrels of oil equivalent -- to replenish dwindling North Sea resources and extend the country's oil and gas boom. Environmentalists argue that keeping the region free from drilling is the only way to avoid accidents that may irreparably damage its eco-system, rich fishing waters and image as one of Europe's last tourist destinations unspoiled by modern industry. (...)"
For full analysis: http://www.reuters.com/article/arctic/idUSLQ235203