Police investigate US Embassy explosion, foreign ministry arranges flight from Oman and kindergartens struggling on staff numbers. Here’s the news from Norway this Monday.
Oslo police probe possible terror motive after US embassy blast
An explosion that rocked the US embassy in Oslo in the early hours of Sunday may have been an act of terror, police said, while stressing that they were also investigating other possible causes.
The explosion occurred at around 1am at the entrance to the embassy’s consular section.
No injuries were reported following the blast, with the building suffering “minor damage,” according to police incident commander Michael Dellemyr.
Police did not provide details about what might have caused the explosion, but said that an “explosive device” had been used.
Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre called the incident “very serious and completely unacceptable,” adding that he had spoken with the head of the US embassy in Oslo.
Foreign Ministry flight from Oman lands in Norway
A flight operated by airline Norwegian and arranged by the Foreign Ministry has landed in Oslo after helping stranded Norwegians to return home from the Middle East.
The flight, which departed from Oman, was planned by the ministry for people unable to return home from the region after airspace was closed amid the United States and Israel’s war on Iran.
“127 persons including 44 returned home safely to Norway from Oman last night,” the ministry said in a statement.
“The flight arranged by the ministry in partnership with Norwegian landed in Oslo at 00:16. The ministry’s two special support teams in Dubai and Muscat helped set up the service,” it added.
Advertisement
Only 65 percent of kindergartens meet staffing requirement
New education ministry figures reported by industry publication Utdanningsnytt show that staffing levels at kindergartens in many Norwegian counties and municipalities are well below legal requirements.
The review shows that Akershus is the county where the lowest number of kindergartens meet the required number of carers per child. Only 39.7 percent of kindergartens in Akershus meet the required level.
Agder is the county with the best record at 94.6 percent. Nationally, 65 percent of kindergarten meet the criteria.
Kindergartens are permitted to apply for exemption from the requirements on the number of carers they employ. While some do this on an annual basis, others do not, according to the report.