NORWEGIAN

Norwegian authorities say that a beluga whale first spotted in Arctic Norway in 2019 with an apparent Russian-made harness and alleged to have come from a Russian military facility has been spotted off Sweden's west coast.

A North Sea storm has led to dozens of train and ferry cancellations in northern Denmark and southern Norway.

For more than 100 years, people came to the remote Arctic archipelago of Svalbard to work in coal mines.

Social life in the Norwegian village of Longyearbyen — hemmed in by mountains, a glacier and a fjord on a remote Arctic island — has long revolved around its only church.

Lucas Braathen won the Alta Badia giant slalom for his second win in as many races.

Four Mediterranean European Union members have issued a joint statement weighing on a dispute over a deal for Europe to jointly help asylum-seekers.

The daughter of Norway’s King Harald says she no longer will officially represent the Norwegian royal house following questions about her and her American fiancé’s activities.

Authorities say a French woman has been injured when attacked by a polar bear in Norway’s remote Arctic Svalbard Islands.

A Norwegian cruise ship operator says one of its ships has run aground in a fjord off the Nordic country’s west coast.

The birdies that flowed so freely for Viktor Hovland over the first three days of the British Open finally dried up.

The suspect in a deadly shooting ahead of an LGBTQ festival in the Norwegian capital, which authorities are treating as an Islamist attack, has been ordered held in pre-trial detention for four weeks — two of them in solitary confinement.

The suspect in a mass shooting during an LGBTQ festival in Norway has refused to explain his actions to investigators and will remain in pretrial custody for the next four weeks.

A gunman who opened fire in Oslo’s nightlife district has killed two people and left more than 20 others injured during the LGBTQ Pride festival in Norway's capital.

A man has been found guilty of murder and attempted murder for killing five people and wounding four others in southern Norway when he attacked strangers with a bow and arrows and knives.

NATO-member Norway terminated its two-decade-old contract with a France-based manufacturer for 14 maritime helicopters, citing delays, errors and time-consuming maintenance, The Norwegian defense minister said Friday that the government will return the NH90 helicopters it received so far and expects a refund of $525 million.

A Norwegian soccer official has delivered a scathing criticism of World Cup host Qatar and FIFA to an audience of executives on the eve of the tournament’s draw.

A Norwegian photographer arrested on espionage-related charges on the Greek island of Lesbos has been released from custody after appearing at a public prosecutor’s office.

A Norwegian duel is playing out for the season-ending men’s World Cup ski race and the seasonlong slalom title.

A 24-year-old woman was taken to the hospital early Saturday morning after being shot while driving in a residential area near the University of Central Florida's main campus, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities say that four U.S. Marines have been killed when their Osprey aircraft crashed in a Norwegian town in the Arctic Circle during a NATO exercise unrelated to the Ukraine war.

A 75-year-old Norwegian photographer has been arrested on the Greek island of Lesbos on espionage-related charges and appeared in court.

Gas prices have slightly dipped in the past couple of days.

A Lakeland man scratched his way to $5 million.

A family captures on video a shark feeding close to Ponce Inlet shore.

Russian skiers are not welcome to compete in Norway.

Masks will no longer be required on Norwegian cruises sailing out starting next month.

The first event of the Alpine skiing schedule at the Beijing Olympics has been postponed a day because of strong wind that made it too dangerous to race.

Therese Johaug won the first gold medal of the Beijing Olympics in the women’s 15-kilometer cross-country skiathlon.

The first day of medals at the Beijing Olympics could be the start of another Norwegian gold rush.

Norway’s next central bank governor will be NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

Which team did the U.S. beat to win gold in curling.

Two members of Norway’s women’s cross-country team and a U.S. bobsledder have tested positive for the coronavirus ahead of next month's Beijing Olympics.

Norwegian mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik is testing the country's commitment to tolerance and rehabilitation.

Norwegian telecommunications company Telenor says it plans to sell its stake in the Myanmar fintech company Wave Money to its main partner in the venture, Yoma Strategic Holdings.

A bicyclist was severely injured in a crash in Port Orange on Wednesday night, according to police.

The Florida Highway Patrol issued a warning for Marion County drivers Wednesday night regarding wildfire smoke and fog in the area.

All Universal park employees must be fully vaccinated by Feb. 9.

Norwegian skier Henrik Kristoffersen moved up from seventh after the opening leg to win the Alta Badia giant slalom for his first victory in the discipline since raising the trophy on the same Gran Risa course two years ago.

The Norwegian government is introducing a 10-person limit for gatherings at private homes to counter an uptick in COVID-19 cases, although the number will be increased to 20 on Christmas and New Year’s eves.

A man reportedly armed with a knife has threatened passers-by on the streets of the Norwegian capital, Oslo, before being shot dead by police.

The U.N. Security Council has strongly condemned attacks on schools, teachers and children and called on all parties to promote the right to education in conflicts.

Norway’s domestic intelligence agency says that such deadly attacks as the one in the small town of Kongsberg earlier this month are highly difficult to anticipate and prevent and are likely to happen again in such an open and democratic society such as Norway.

Residents of a Norwegian town are grappling with the horrible knowledge that someone living in their community used a bow and arrow to attack people on a weekday evening and killed five of them.

Many Norwegians recall it all too well: politicians, residents and Norway’s royal family together mourning an act of home-grown mass violence in a nation where such tragedies are rare.

Norwegian authorities say the bow-and-arrow rampage by a man who killed five people in a small town appeared to be a terrorist act.

A man armed with a bow and arrows killed five people and wounded others near the Norwegian capital of Oslo.

Representatives of Venezuela’s government and opposition say they have agreed to find ways to deal with the pressing needs of Venezuelans, especially in combatting the coronavirus pandemic.

Norwegian Cruise Line is asking a federal judge to block a Florida law prohibiting cruise companies from demanding that passengers show written proof of coronavirus vaccination before they board a ship.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and the state of Florida are battling about which court should hear a challenge to the state’s ban on so-called “vaccine passports."

Norwegian experts say an unusually large meteor was visible over large parts of southern Scandinavia and illuminated southeast Norway with a powerful flash of light for a few seconds as many observers were reported to also hear a roaring sound afterwards.

U.S. pop singer Pink has offered to pay a fine given to the Norwegian female beach handball team for wearing shorts instead of the required bikini bottoms.

On the 10th anniversary of Norway’s worst peacetime slaughter, survivors of Anders Behring Breivik’s assault worry that the racism which nurtured the anti-Islamic mass murderer is re-emerging.

The Norwegian telecoms company Telenor, one of the biggest carriers in Myanmar, says it has agreed to sell its entire operations in the country to the M1 Group, a Lebanese-based investment firm.

The body of a toddler who washed ashore on Norway’s southwest coast in January has been identified.

Norwegian Cruise Line announces that it expects to resume cruise operations from the U.S. beginning Aug. 7.

Florida has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. federal government and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, demanding cruises be allowed to begin sailing again from Florida’s ports.

Irish health officials have recommended the temporary suspension of the AstraZeneca vaccine after reports of serious blood clotting after inoculations in Norway. Dr. Ronan Glynn, Irelands deputy chief medical officer, said Sunday, March 14 the recommendation was made after Norways medicines agency reported four cases of blood clotting in adults after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, file)LONDON – Irish health officials on Sunday recommended the temporary suspension of the AstraZeneca vaccine after reports of serious blood clotting after inoculations in Norway. Dr. Ronan Glynn, Ireland’s deputy chief medical officer, said the recommendation was made after Norway’s medicines agency reported four cases of blood clotting in adults after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine. The health ministry said the move followed six new reports in Denmark and Norway of blood clotting and lowered levels of blood platelets in people aged under 50.

Norwegian Cruise Line is once again extending its suspension on sailings, this time through the end of May. Norwegian previously pushed back its return to sailing through the end of April less than a month ago. The company is also offering a 10% off coupon for those passengers if they have not already received one from a previously canceled cruise. Norwegian is also trying to figure out whether it will be able to resume any of its Alaska Cruises in 2021. Norwegian said it is “exploring several initiatives that may allow such cruises to continue” including asking the Canadian government to amend its suspension.

Viktor Hovland, left, of Norway, waits to putt on the eighth hole of the South Course during the second round of the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament at Torrey Pines, Friday, Jan. 29, 2021, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)SAN DIEGO – Viktor Hovland birdied his final for a 7-under 65 on Torrey Pines’ tough South Course on a rainy, miserable Friday, giving him a one-shot lead after two rounds of the Farmers Insurance Open. Reed shot an even-par 72 on the South Course a day after firing an 8-under 64 on the easier North Course. AdThe weather is supposed to clear up for the weekend rounds on the South Course. “I just played really solid and made some putts.”He had just one bogey, on the par-4 15th.

PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. – Disney, Carnival, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean all announced this month the companies will wait even longer to restart, Port Canaveral officials now predict cruises might return in July. Port Canaveral commissioners approved a revised port budget to update its losses to $43 million. Fortunately, with savings built up from record years before coronavirus, Port Canaveral CEO Captain John Murray is confident the port will outlast the pandemic even all the way into next year. Port officials said it is most likely the beginning of the restart will feature one ship per cruise line and each ship will operate at 50% capacity. The first cruises will be crew members only, the next set of cruises will be volunteers, all before regular passengers can get a ticket.

Norway is fining gay dating app Grindr $11.7 million under for failing to get consent from users before sharing their personal information with advertising companies, in breach of stringent European Union privacy rules. Norwegian's data privacy watchdog said Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021 that it notified the company of its draft decision to issue a fine for 100 million Norwegian krone, equal to 10% of its annual global revenue. The Norwegian data privacy watchdog said Tuesday that it notified Grindr LLC of its draft decision to issue a fine for 100 million Norwegian krone ($11.7 million), equal to 10% of the U.S. company's global revenue. The Data Protection Authority took action following a complaint by the Norwegian Consumer Council alleging personal data was shared unlawfully for marketing purposes. “The Norwegian Data Protection Authority considers that this is a serious case," said Director-General Bjorn Erik Thon.

The Norwegian Medicines Agency on Thursday reported a total of 29 people had suffered side effects, 13 of them fatal. All the deaths occurred among patients in nursing homes and all were over the age of 80. Overall, Norway has seen 57,279 cases and reported 511 deaths. But determining whether or not the vaccine caused deaths can be very challenging and requires that all other potential causes be ruled out first. The European Medicines Agency said Friday that it will receive and consider monthly safety reports from companies authorized to sell vaccines, starting in January with the Pfizer jab.

ALTA BADIA – Alexis Pinturault held off a challenge from unheralded Norwegian skier Atle Lie McGrath to win the classic men’s World Cup giant slalom on the Gran Risa course Sunday. He is the son of Felix McGrath, a World Cup skier for the US ski team in the 1980s and 90s. Pinturault gathered 15 of his 31 career World Cup wins in GS, but Sunday's result marked his first podium in the discipline this season. Among active skiers, only American Ted Ligety has more GS wins with 24. The men's World Cup remains in Italy for slaloms in Alta Badia on Monday and Madonna di Campiglio on Tuesday.

Norwegian Cruise Line announced Wednesday it is extending all cruise suspensions through Feb. 28, 2021, amid the coronavirus pandemic. Cruise line officials said it “continues to work through its return to service plan to meet the requirements of the Framework for Conditional Sailing Order issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”This latest extension by the cruise line includes all voyages between Jan. 1, 2021 and Feb. 28, 2021. Norwegian officials said this additional suspension does impact some voyages in March 2021 and all voyages on Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises between Jan. 1 and March 31, 2021. The cruise line said in a news release, guests who are currently booked on canceled voyages should contact a travel advisor or the cruise line directly.

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___The wrestling world championships have been canceled because of travel restrictions amid the coronavirus pandemic. United World Wrestling says there weren’t enough entries for next month’s tournament in Serbia to meet its criteria for a world championship event. UWW had wanted at least eight of the top-10 ranked nations and 70% of the athletes from last year’s world championships to participate. ___Norway’s friendly soccer match against Israel has been canceled because of the risk of contracting COVID-19. The Norwegian soccer federation says the decision was recommended by national health authorities one day after an Israel player tested positive.

Braathen, who had never finished in a World Cup podium position, improved from fifth place after the opening leg to upset the pre-race favorites and clinch his first career win. Braathen posted the second fastest time in the decisive leg to finish ahead of Swiss duo Marco Odermatt and Caviezel. Competing in only his 23th event in the World Cup, Braathen had a fourth place as his previous best result at the slalom in Kitzbuehel in January. With Braathen and Odermatt, who turned 23 this month, a younger generation occupied the top spots in the season's first race. The next World Cup races are parallel events for men and women in another Austrian resort, Lech/Zuers, on Nov. 13-14.

WARSAW – Norway has granted asylum to a Polish man who had fled prison term for fraud and forging of documents, but says the prison term was a form of political persecution under Poland's right-wing government. Observers say that Rafal Gawel's case is the first time political asylum has been granted to a Pole in more than 30 years since the fall of communism in Poland. “I am the first Pole who managed to win asylum since communist times,” Gawel told The Associated Press over the phone from Norway. “It's not like they don't know who they have granted asylum to,” Gawel said. Gawel’s lawyer, Lukasz Niedzielski, said Monday that asylum in Gawel's case can be easily extended.

(AP Photo/Peter Dejong)PARIS – Sebastian Korda was 9, heart set on a hockey career, when he went with his father, Petr, to the 2009 U.S. Open. By then, Petr — 1998 Australian Open champion, 1992 French Open finalist — had retired as a competitor and turned to coaching. Went home, came back the next year, and said, ‘This is exactly what I want to do,’” Korda said. “Everybody is always asking him: ‘Are you the son of Petr Korda?’ Which I would love to change in the future,” Dad said in a telephone interview, “so that people ask me, ‘Are you Sebastian’s father? On Sunday, Korda plays 12-time champion Rafael Nadal, while Gaston meets U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem.

(AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)PARIS – The Latest from the French Open (all times local):___7:00 pm. Wawrinka won the French Open in 2015. ___2:50 p.m.Simona Halep had no trouble reversing the result of her loss to Amanda Anisimova at last year’s French Open. She opened her campaign with a first-round upset of 2019 French Open finalist Marketa Vondrousova. The two-time French Open quarterfinalist defeated Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-4, 7-5.

Cruise ship returns to Port Canaveral after Florida boy gets infection during trip. If you need help with the Public File, call 407-291-6000.