a-ha takes a final bow

On 29 September, President of the Norwegian parliament Thorbjørn Jagland was elected Secretary General of the Council of Europe. Now he intends to modernise what he describes as the world’s most important human rights organisation, and make it more effective.

On 14 September, the Labour Party, Socialist Left Party and Centre Party received the majority of votes in the national election, giving them a mandate to govern for another four-year period. “We will focus on securing jobs, renewing and improving the welfare society, and playing an active role in climate issues,” says Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg.

The world’s first full-scale floating wind turbine – known as Hywind – was officially opened on 8 September off the southwest coast of Norway. “This is an important step towards creating a new Norwegian energy industry at sea,” declared Norway’s Minister of Petroleum and Energy Terje Riis-Johansen.