Taste & Travel Norway and Scotland 9 October 2009
We would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to all visitors and the exhibitors at our Taste & Travel event in Aberdeen: AVC Media, SAS, Widerøe, Norseland, Skene House HotelSuites, Mamut, Eastern Airways, Victoria Hotel and StatoilHydro.

Press & Journal covered the event both before and after. Click here.
To see pictures from the event click here.

StatoilHydro his discovery in the Frigg Delta prospect
Oil has been discovered by StatoilHydro in the Frigg Delta prospect in the North Sea, with proven recoverable volumes put at 18-35 million barrels. Read more

Tierra, StatoilHydro team up for seismic technology project
StatoilHydro and Tierra Geophysical have signed a contract for joint development of seismic imaging software technology. The seismic imaging software is expected to improve StatoilHydro’s ability to assess exploration and production targets in areas of complex geology. Read more

StatoilHydro says technology developments paying off
Better drilling methods are making the single biggest contribution to improving recovery from Norway’s offshore fields. A number of solutions adopted by StatoilHydro this year are already yielding good results. Read more

Kongsberg Maritime DP simulator becomes first to achieve Class A DNV approval
The leading simulator developer has also achieved DNV approval to Class A standards for its Bridge Operation simulator including class notification of DP, Ice Navigation, High Speed Craft and Tug simulation. Read more

Visund and Troll subsea contracts to Aker Solutions
Aker Solutions has been awarded two contracts by StatoilHydro to deliver subsea equipment to its Visund and Troll fields in the North Sea, including subsea tree number 100 for Troll. Combined contract value is approximately NOK 300 million. Read more

Oil&Gas: Stable production in 3rd quarter
Production on the Norwegian continental shelf remained stable and higher than the forecast for the 3rd quarter of 2009. Oil production has declined somewhat, while gas production is rising. Read more

What is the future of music online?
For years, the music industry has, in the words of Bonnie Tyler, been holding out for a hero. For the industry, this hero must come up with an idea that is great enough to tempt fans away from illegal file-sharing sites, while simultaneously making money for artists, songwriters and record labels. Read more

Millions tricked by 'scareware'
Online criminals are making millions of pounds by convincing computer users to download fake anti-virus software, internet security experts claim. Read more

Crystals hold super computer key
Tiny crystals could hold the key to creating computers with massive storage capacity, scientists believe. Read more

Economic Update by Ania Thiemann, The Economist Intelligence Unit
The Economist Intelligence Unit has revised up slightly its forecast for real GDP growth owing to strong improvements for some countries in the second quarter of 2009. Read more

The Copenhagen climate agreement: EU positions and state of play
International negotiations were launched in December 2007 to draw up a United Nations agreement on tackling climate change for the period after 2012, when key provisions of the Kyoto Protocol will expire. The negotiations are due to be concluded at the Copenhagen climate conference on 7-18 December 2009. Read more

Special committee on financial and economic crisis
MEPs have agreed to set up a special committee on the financial and economic crisis with 45 members and a 12-month mandate. It will assess the extent and impact of the crisis on Member States and propose measures to rebuild stable financial markets. Read more

Securities income: Commission recommends simplified procedures for claiming cross-border withholding tax relief
The European Commission has adopted a recommendation that outlines how EU Member States could make it easier for investors resident in EU Member States to claim withholding tax relief on dividends, interest and other securities income received from other Member States. Read more

Get exit strategies ready now, says Commission
The European Commission has given its starkest warning yet that member states need to have their exit strategies ready for deployment now, as member states face the double burden of ageing populations and a heady deterioration of government accounts. Read more

Council Conclusions Towards Sustainability: Eco-Efficient Economy in the context of the post 2010 Lisbon Agenda and the EU Sustainable Development Strategy
RECOGNISING the urgency of turning the current multiple crises into an opportunity by shifting to an eco-efficient economy, i.e. a safe and sustainable low carbon, resource-efficient economy, based on sustainable production in all sectors and underpinned by more sustainable life-styles focusing inter alia on the housing, transport and food sectors. Read more

New partnership launched to improve infrastructure in northern Europe
A new initiative called the Northern Dimension Partnership on Transport and Logistics has been launched with the aim of improving major transport connections in northern Europe. Read more

Norway and Switzerland among the most important trading partners for EU27
A Eurostat news release on 16 October 2009 shows that Norway and Switzerland are amongst the main trading partners for the Member States of the European Union. In the period from January to July 2009, only the United States, China and Russia are more important when looking at exports and imports combined. Read more

Airlines: Record Q3 for Norwegian
Low-fare airline Norwegian reports a pre-tax result of NOK 519 million for the third quarter, an improvement of NOK 326 million over the same quarter last year. This is the best operating profit in the airline's history. Read more

Norway's new Government presented
Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg presented a number of changes in the Government on 20 October. Seven ministers have been given new fields of responsibility while six new ministers have been appointed. Read more

NORWAY IN LONDON
Organisations of interest to people living in and visiting London: Den Norske Klub, the Norwegian Church, Norwegian YMCA, the Norwegian School and NBCC. Read more

National Geographic votes fjords as top destination
National Geographic Traveler has crowned Norway’s fjords as the top iconic travel destination in its sixth annual ‘Places Rated’ Destination Stewardship survey in conjunction with National Geographic Society’s Center for Sustainable Destinations. Read more

Swine Flu: Mass vaccination adviced
As expected, the Norwegian Health authorities on Friday announced that they advice all Norwegians to be vaccinated against the swine flu. So far, ten persons are known to have died from the flu in Norway. Read more

King Harald invites Obama
Norway's King Harald has invited US President Barack Obama to stay overnight at the Royal Palace (photo) when the President comes to Oslo to receive the Nobel Peace Price in December. Read more

Norway tops Press Freedom Index
Norway, the other Nordic countries and Ireland top the eighth annual world press freedom index compiled by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), based on input from hundreds of journalists and media experts around the world. Read more

FIRST CLASS IN EVERY WAY ! - Gramophone Magazine
The Trondheim Soloists will make its long awaited return to London this autumn with concerts at Cadogan Hall, London on the 29th October. The Trondheim Soloists are pleased to offer members of the Norwegian British Chamber of Commerce discount tickets. Read more

a-ha with UK arena tour
a-ha, Norway’s multi-million selling purveyors of instant pop gems, returns to to the UK for an arena tour following the successful release of their new album 'Foot Of the Mountain'. Read more

Antonsen with London Symphony Orchestra
Renowned Norwegian trumpet soloist Ole Edvard Antonsen will perform at the Barbican with the London Symphony Orchestra on 1 November. Read more

Bjørnstad with new book and concert
The pianist, novelist, poet, composer and playwright Ketil Bjørnstad will perform music pieces and readings from his novel 'To Music' at the Southbank Centre 27 October. Read more

EXHIBITION OPENING – Back to Beauty - Silje Vallevik
Launch 24 October 6-10pm at The Bath House. Read more