Shock opinion poll for Bondevik (Dagbladet/Sunday/Monday)

Only 27 per cent of those questioned in a recent opinion poll say that Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik is doing a good job. The last time he was prime minister his approval rating was 60 per cent. As many as 50 per cent of those polled rate Mr Bondevik’s performance as mediocre, while 15 per cent believe he is doing a poor job. This is a major blow for the country’s new prime minister. "I am not unmoved by these figures. But they must not, and shall not, affect our work," was Mr Bondevik’s response. He is comforting himself with the fact that other prime ministers have had lower opinion poll scores and that in politics some days you are up and some days you are down.

Offer of Norwegian elite troops (Verdens Gang/Saturday)

Defence Minister Kristin Krohn Devold is ready to send around 100 Norwegian military experts in winter warfare to Afghanistan. Norway is also offering F-16 fighters, helicopters and Hercules transport planes. "When we send troops in to an operation of this kind, we must also be prepared to become involved in real fighting," said the Defence Minister.

USA will probably decline offer of Norwegian help (Aftenposten/Saturday)

It seems unlikely that in the near future the USA will avail themselves of Norway’s offer of military personnel in the war in Afghanistan. Around 30 countries have so far offered assistance, but only France and the UK have been asked for specific contributions. A broad parliamentary majority in Norway supports the Norwegian offer. But the Progress Party, the Socialist Left Party and the Centre Party nevertheless demanded a full debate on the matter in the Storting.

Sticking to Hagen (Dagens Næringsliv/Saturday)

The Bondevik government is not looking for new allies after this autumn’s budget row with the Progress Party. "We acknowledge that this government is in power thanks to the Progress Party. This is something we have to take into consideration," said Prime Minister Bondevik. He would not completely rule out any alliances, but yesterday toned down the possibility that in future years his government will choose to cooperate with the Labour Party on the budget. "We have not indicated any new direction with regard to alliances or alliance partners. We intend to maintain solid relations with the Progress Party," he said.

Equality demanded from endowments (Dagsavisen/Sunday)

The Gender Equality Ombud wants to put a stop to endowment funds which restrict their payouts to just one sex. Every year around NOK 500 million is paid out by more than 2,000 Norwegian endowment funds and bursary schemes. Many of them are restricted to just men or just women. "We are now planning a review of all Norwegian endowment funds. In those cases where we feel it is necessary we will then contact the funds’ managers, and ask them to change their articles of association," said Anette Bjørlin Basma of the Gender Equality Ombud’s office.

Insurance problems looming for potential terror targets (Aftenposten)

Potential terrorist targets such as North Sea oil installations, and the skyscraper hotel belonging to SAS Radisson in Oslo could be refused anti-terror insurance cover. The Norwegian insurance industry is now working feverishly to establish a pool scheme for this risk scenario. They will probably ask the Government for assistance. But even so – the reinsurance costs will be high.

CEO wanted (Verdens Gang)

A gruelling workload, zero social life and Kjell Inge Røkke constantly breathing down your neck. These are just some of the things Kværner’s new chief executive will have to put up with. VG has learned that Mr Røkke has already drawn up a list of potential candidates for the top job at Kværner. But it is not only a matter of who the Kværner board wants as chief executive, just as importantly it is a question of finding someone prepared to take on the job.

Worth Noting

• Norwegian child welfare authorities use court orders far more often than their Danish counterparts, despite the fact that many more Danish children are living apart from their parents. (Dagsavisen)
• Spending NOK 120 million on consultants was necessary to drive through the state takeover of the hospitals from the new year, says the Health and Social Affairs Ministry. So far there are few indications that there will be more health for each krone spent when the state takes over. (Aftenposten/Saturday)
• In 2004 Norway will open its doors to workers from the EU’s new member states. Not fast enough, says the Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry (NHO). The EU countries have adopted a transition scheme running for between two and five years to avoid a massive influx of cheap labour. Norway has not taken any such reservations, because unemployment here is at rock bottom. (Aftenposten/Sunday)
• Just when everyone thought the worst of the controversy surrounding Kværner was over, one of the company’s small investors, Invitt AS, is demanding that an investigation be launched into the ailing industrial giant. (Dagsavisen/Saturday)
• A lack of interest in Telenor’s shares has resulted in the state handing NOK 1 billion worth of Telenor shares back to the company. Telenor chief executive Tormod Hermansen is planning to use the shares for stock option schemes, bonuses and bartering. (Dagens Næringsliv)
• Each day tens of thousands of Norwegians struggle with their addiction to gambling, and the problem is getting rapidly worse, warns consultant psychiatrist Hans Olav Fekjær. He fears that the politicians will not act until the lives of a large number of individuals and whole families lie in ruins. (Dagsavisen)
• Steinar Bastesen, leader of the Coastal Party and its only MP, was last night fighting for his life after a second stroke – one week after the first. Mr Bastesen underwent brain surgery at the National Hospital in Oslo and was last night breathing with the help of a respirator. (Dagbladet)
• Saturday’s floods in the southern counties have resulted in widespread damage to homes and public buildings. "Thankfully we have so far not received notification of any injuries as a result of the huge volume of floodwater, said duty officer Odd Kjell Abrahamsen of the Kristiansand police district. At Lindesnes lighthouse a total of 130mm of rain fell in just 24 hours. (All newspapers/Sunday)

Today’s comment from Dagbladet

Reserving certain jobs for one particular sex is in breach of the EEA Agreement, says the EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA). The dispute surrounding the University of Oslo’s female professorships has taken another step closer to the EFTA Court. Following the Stoltenberg government’s decision not to back down on this gender equality issue, the ESA has been following up the case. At the moment no one knows where the new government stands, but Education Minister Kristin Clemet has said that she takes the underlying problem seriously. Only 13 per cent of the professorships at the University of Oslo are occupied by women. We hope the Government stands behind the university’s decision to favour qualified women in an attempt to break a long tradition in which men have appointed men based on personal preference, but under the cover of supposed greater professional qualification. The use of quotas to increase the representation of one particular gender remains controversial. The issue is of interest throughout the entire EEA, where Norway is a pioneer in matters of gender equality. Bring the case to trial.