Minister of Children and Equality Karita Bekkemellem wants to better prevent discrimination against women in the hiring process, and promises to make it illegal to ask about pregnancy in job interviews.

Minister of Children and Equality said it is evident that the current laws do not sufficiently protect pregnant women from discrimination. PHOTO: LISE �SERUD / SCANPIX

The Minister said she wants to better protect pregnant women against discrimination from potential employers, and that the current laws need to be tightened.

“It is evident that the current laws do not sufficiently protect pregnant women,” she told newspaper VG.

Bekkemellem vowed to initiate changes in the law regulating employment conditions at the earliest possible opportunity, to make it illegal for employers to ask potential employees whether they are pregnant.

While it is illegal to not hire a woman purely because she is pregnant, it is currently not illegal for employers to ask about pregnancy during a job interview. Although difficult to prove, many women thus believe that they have been denied a job or fired due to their pregnancy.

Bekkemellem has previously stated that she wants to introduce financial penalties for employers that discriminate against pregnant women, and she told newspaper VG that she is still considering this option.

By Kristin Solberg

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Petty theft and fewer customers have dramatically decreased revenue for shops on Karl Johans Gate, Oslo’s main boulevard, after the capital’s drug addicts made it their favourite hang out.

Turnover decreases for shops on Karl Johans Gate. PHOTO: MAGNUS KNUTSEN BJ�RKE

Several shops have cut staff, and some are moving to new locations, newspaper Aften reported.

After Karl Johans Gate became the capital’s drug addicts favourite hang out, several shops report that their revenue have decreased dramatically.

Executive director Morten Fure at the Oslo Trade Association (Oslo Handelstands Forening) said that several shops have moved from the area in the past couple of years.

“Some of our members have experienced a 40 percent decrease in turnover. Many have laid off staff,” he said.

Owner of the jewellery chain Arts&Crafts told Aften that they were moving their branch in the Karl Johan Street shopping centre Arkaden.

“We have to get away from this area. The drug addicts’ presence means fewer customers,” said Birgit L�itegaard, and added that sales had gradually decreased recently.

At the 7-Eleven branch across the street, general manager Roar Haserud agreed. “It is difficult to run a business in this area,” he said, “there’s a lot of petty theft.”

By Kristin Solberg and Anne Silje B�

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Norway’s Princess M�rtha Louise, who last week announced that she was clairvoyant and that she would be launching a school to teach students how to “communicate with angels,” is off sick after much criticism for her latest business venture.

Princess M�rtha Louise is off sick. Here pictured in the town of Arendal this summer. PHOTO: SCANPIX/LISE �SERUD

Messages of support for the Norwegian Princess M�rtha Louise’s most recent business venture have been few and far between. Criticism, on the other hand, from the Church, health officials and even the consumer affairs ombudsman, has been abundant.

M�rtha Louise, daughter of King Harald and Queen Sonja, announced recently that she is clairvoyant and that she is setting up an alternative school where students will be taught to “get in touch with their own truths” through “readings, healing, crystals and hands-on treatment.” The three-year course, which will run twice a week at a cost of NOK 12,000 per semester (around USD 2,000) quickly filled up, despite the criticism.

It appears, however, that the pressure was too much for M�rtha Louise, age 35. The Princess has cancelled next week�s performances at a music festival in the northern city of Bod�, newspaper VG reported. According to the newspaper, the cancellation is not due to physical illness, but to the pressure experienced in the past week.

Officials at the Royal Palace confirmed that the Princess is off sick, but did not want to comment on the reason.

Princess M�rtha Louise, known to cause controversy, still officially represents the Royal Family at various events, despite her many private business ventures.

None of her past business ventures have, however, been as controversial as the launching of the school, official known as Astarte Education, but dubbed by local media as “The Angel School.” The motto of the school is: “Create miracles in your own life with the angels and your own power.”

By Kristin Solberg

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Norwegian hospitals are in desperate need for more nurses and nursing assistance, but the shortage of health personnel is only increasing, especially in the rural areas.

Norwegian health authorities lack 6,100 employees, mainly nurses and nursing assistants. PHOTO: LISE �SERUD / SCANPIX

Norwegian health authorities lack 6,100 employees, mainly nurses and nursing assistants, newspaper Nationen reported.

The problem is only increasing. This year, health authorities lack 12 percent more qualified health personnel than they did in 2006.

Executive director of recruitment agency Adecco�s health section, B�rd Kristiansen, pointed out that it is especially difficult to find qualified health personnel to work in rural areas, but added that, “there is a shortage all over the country.”

Kristiansen said that it is possible to find temporary staff, but that it is near impossible to fill the permanent positions in the rural areas.

Midwifes and theatre nurses are in particular demand, news agency NTB reported.

By Kristin Solberg

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A male wolf spotted in Sweden could give new DNA to the tiny and inbred Norwegian and Swedish stock.

The tiny Norwegian wolf population is so inbred that its existence is threatened. PHOTO: VEGARD MOBERGET/SCANPIX

A male wolf from the Finnish-Russian stock could be the saviour of the southern Scandinavian wolf population. The male wolf, spotted in the district of Dalarna in Sweden, has been greeted with relief by The Scandinavian Wolf Research Project, known as Skandulv, reported news agency NTB.

The reason wolf fans are so excited about the new wolf, is that the southern Scandinavian stock, which includes animal in both Sweden and Norway, is so inbred that its existence is threatened. A new male animal from a separate stock could provide fresh DNA.

“New DNA from this wolf could secure the stock’s existence several years ahead,” said spokesperson Viggo Ree in the organisation Our Predators (Foreningen V�re Rovdyr).

Scientist Scott M. Brainerd at The Scandinavian Wolf Research Project called the incident “sensational.”

“We need more ‘immigrants’ to get a lasting effect on the Scandiavian stock, but this is fairly sensational. This is the first time since 1990 that such a wolf has travelled this far south,” he said.

By Kristin Solberg, Aftenposten English Web Desk/ NTB

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