News from 2010

Mmino, South African –Norwegian music cooperation, which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year, has been working at promoting indigenous SA live music while trying to forge the re-kindling of a live circuit for music in SA under the banner of ‘Mmino Live’. The NAC has partnered with Mmino in this initiative and after the successful Back to eKasi tour with Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Kristi... Read more

Today, Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg gave Norway’s main address at the United Nations Climate Change Conference. He highlighted two areas that are crucial for the further negotiations: climate change financing and the establishment of a Green Fund, and the conservation of forests. “Norway will do what it can to ensure a positive result here in Cancún,” said Mr Stoltenberg. Read more

Norway gives NOK 1 billion to UNICEF’s work on education and girls’ rights. Read more

I am very impressed by this groundbreaking project, and I am very proud that South Africa is partnering with Norway to make this history, said South Africa’s Ambassador to Norway Beryl Rose Sisulu during her visit to CO2 Technology Center Mongstad. Read more

The International Summer School (ISS) at the University of Oslo has offered intensive summer courses since 1947. Nearly 25 000 students from more than 150 countries have attended the program. Read more

South African artist Shannon Mowday forms together with three Norwegian artists the quartet MOTE. In December will they visit South Africa and Swaziland with music tour “Present in the Origin”. Read more

Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi was Saturday 13 November released from house arrest. Read more

The Research Council of Norway has the pleasure of presenting the YGGDRASIL Program 2011/2012 for Ph.D. students and young Postdocs. Read more

The 2010 Human Development Index (HDI) was released on Friday November 4th as a part of the 20th anniversary edition of UN Human Development Report. Read more

Prime Ministers Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia and Jens Stoltenberg of Norway pointed out that mobilising USD 100 billion annually by 2020 is challenging, but feasible. “If we are to reach this goal, we will need a mix of new public sources, a scaling-up of existing public sources and increased private flows. A carbon price in the range of USD 20-25 by 2020 will be important to meet the goal.” Read more

Through funding from the Norwegian Embassy in Pretoria South Africa has completed a very successful five-year program of monitoring and conserving the country’s unique biodiversity. Read more

Norway is intensifying its cooperation with Cuban doctors in Haiti. An additional NOK 5 million (USD 850 000) has been allocated for cholera medicine and equipment. Read more

On 15 October, the Israeli authorities announced that they had approved plans for the construction of 238 new homes in two Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem. The decision has come at a critical point in the peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. Read more

The Norwegian Embassy in Pretoria has signed an agreement on core support to Idasa’s overall strategic programme from 2010 to 2013. The signing marks the beginning of a long-term partnership within the field of democracy and human rights. Read more

From Jostein Gaarder, the Norwegian author of the million-copy bestseller Sophie’s World, comes The Castle in the Pyrenees. Read more