All articles tagged with #norway
Norway has defended its decision to cancel the sale of Naval Strike Missiles produced by Norwegian company Kongsberg to Malaysia, saying export controls and national security considerations guided the move.
Norway canceled a 2018 contract with Malaysia to supply Naval Strike Missiles and launchers after newly imposed arms export restrictions, invoking force majeure. Malaysia, which has already paid most of the contract and was planning NSMs for its Maharaja Lela-class LCS and Lekiu-class frigates, says it will seek refunds and engage diplomatic channels. The move could push Malaysia to alternative missiles and underscores how export-control policies affect defense partnerships and ongoing programs.
A father and daughter discovered a sandstone panel near Oslo containing Bronze Age carvings—ships, human figures, a footprint, and an unusual broad-handed print—estimated to be about 3,000 years old. Unlike typical granite Nordic panels, the sandstone site preserves clearer tool marks and fewer densely carved details, suggesting a different carving technique. The find, at Kolsatoppen hill in Bærum, adds to evidence that many coastal-art sites remain undocumented and underscores the importance of terrain- and sea-level-based searching in discovering ancient rock art.
A hiker in Norway’s Austrått district found a 1,500-year-old gold sword scabbard buried under a fallen tree. Likely belonging to a 6th‑century regional leader, the ornate yet practical piece shows wear from battle and was possibly placed in bedrock as a religious offering, highlighting power structures during the Migration Period. University of Stavanger researchers note the find is extremely rare—one of about 17 known pieces in northern Europe—and offers new clues about leadership and ritual in 6th-century Norway.
Norway will reopen three North Sea gasfields—Albuskjell, Vest Ekofisk and Tommeliten Gamma—that last produced gas in the 1980s, with output planned for 2028 and expected to run about 20 years to bolster European gas supplies as Germany and the UK seek alternatives to Russia and the Middle East. The fields hold an estimated 90–120 million barrels of oil equivalent and are licensed to ConocoPhillips, Vår Energi, Petoro and Orlen. The government’s plan also includes offering 70 new exploration blocks, mostly in the Barents Sea, despite environmental concerns and political opposition.
Norway has been informed by US authorities that deliveries of American-made weapons may be delayed due to strained US stockpiles amid Middle East conflicts, with no decision yet and officials not specifying which systems would be affected.
A Viking coin hoard was uncovered in eastern Norway’s Innlandet county after detectorists retrieved 19 silver coins and enlisted archaeologists, who within a week documented more than 3,000 coins. Most coins were minted in Germany and England, with some Norwegian issues after 1045, and they appear exceptionally well-preserved due to the soil. The treasure is believed to have been buried around 1050, linking the find to the end of the Viking Age and shedding light on medieval trade networks.
Two private metal detectorists in Østerdalen, Norway uncovered 2,970 silver coins dating to around 1047—the largest Viking Age coin hoard found in Norwegian history. The coins include pieces minted under Cnut the Great, Æthelred II, Otto III and Harald Hardrada, and researchers say the stash likely reflects iron-production trade in the region. Excavations continue with restricted access, and the hoard will be transported to the Museum of Cultural History’s Coin Cabinet for cataloguing and study.
Archaeologists in eastern Norway uncovered 2,970 silver coins from the Viking Age—the largest Viking coin hoard found in Norway—featuring coins minted under Æthelred II, Cnut the Great, and Otto III, and dating to around 1050 as Norwegian coinage emerged; the find, which also included hacksilver, suggests a wealth stash tied to medieval silver economy, with excavations continuing at the site.
Metal detectorists in Innlandet near the village of Rena uncovered Norway’s largest Viking Age coin hoard, a find that dwarfs previous discoveries with more than 3,150 coins recovered and counting; the trove, dating to the late 10th to early 11th centuries and minted across England, Germany, Denmark, and Norway, emerged after two private citizens found a smaller batch of 19 coins on April 10, prompting a broader archaeological probe. Researchers say the coins shed new light on the era’s economy amid political upheaval and foreign wealth, with coins tied to rulers like Cnut the Great, Ethelred II, Otto III, and Harald Hardrada; the search for more treasure continues, and officials call the discovery historic.
Britain and Norway led a joint patrol to defend critical undersea cables in the North Atlantic, deterring Russian submarines after monitoring a Russian attack sub and two spy subs for over a month; a fleet of at least 13 warships, with planes and hundreds of personnel, tracked the activity before the vessels departed. The operation underscores Western efforts to safeguard infrastructure amid tensions over Ukraine and sanctions evasion, and Norway's defence tie with the UK is expanding, including the purchase of British-made frigates.
Archaeologists in southern Norway confirmed the long‑told tale of Hamarkaupangen, a medieval town described near Hamar’s cathedral, after 2023–24 georadar surveys pinpointed ruins and an excavation revealed a two‑room wooden dwelling. The find, aligned with a 16th‑century chronicle, suggests an urban layout with buildings and streets, moving the site from legend to historical reality.
Norway celebrated its first Oscar for best international feature as Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value, an Oslo-set family drama, won the prize amid domestic controversy; the film earned nine nominations, drew critical praise, and underscores Norway’s growing film industry and potential for more international productions.
A Norwegian study reviewing historical tundra tongue cases and new pig-tongue experiments found that sticking occurs when saliva freezes to a cold metal surface, with the greatest tearing risk at -5 to -15 C; in 164 detachment trials about 54% tore tongue tissue, though extreme cold can sometimes lock the tongue enough to reduce tearing. Practical takeaway: stay calm and pull off slowly rather than yank. The research also notes Norway’s 1998 ban on bare metal in playground equipment.
Police in Oslo are examining an explosion outside the U.S. Embassy, with no injuries reported; authorities say an incendiary device detonated near the entrance and are pursuing multiple leads, including a possible targeted attack, while seeking witnesses and suspects.