Oslo in favour of capped taxi prices

Oslo municipality supports the proposal to introduce a maximum price for taxis in the capital.

The city council has said this proposal will crack down on unscrupulous firms and make the situation better for consumers.

The maximum rate will be 16 kroner and 70 øre per kilometer.

“The bulk of the complaints since 2020 relate to the price of the taxi journey. The customer consistently feels that they have paid too high a price/overcharge, and that they are rejected when they complain to the taxi driver,” Environment and Transport Council Marit Kristine Vea said in a statement.

“Several of the complaints are from tourists/driving from Gardermoen,” Vea added.

More than 1,000 applications for Storm Hans compensation still waiting

The Norwegian Directorate of Agriculture still has more than 1,000 applications for natural damage outstanding following Storm Hans last August.

Some 45 million kroner in damages has been paid out, the Norwegian Directorate of Agriculture has said.

“The extreme weather last year unfortunately led to an extraordinarily large caseload, with many difficult cases and long processing times,” managing director of the agricultural directorate Eli Reistad said.

Centre Party to reduce wealth tax burden for business owners

The Centre Party would reduce the wealth tax for small and medium-sized businesses if elected to parliament in 2025.

“Here we point very clearly where we want to go, and we want to help business owners of small and medium-sized businesses all over Norway, because we want to develop the whole of Norway,” Per Martin Sandtrøen of the Center Party told NRK.

The party would increase the tax-free limit for smaller business owners to ensure small business owners get a larger tax break than the wealthiest.

Norwegian county with highest forest fire risk in Europe

Finnmark is the region with the highest forest fire risk in Europe. This has been caused by an unusually dry spell in north Norway.

Norway’s preparedness directorate (DSB) has put in special emergency preparedness measures in Alta and Tana.

Meanwhile, the public has been asked to be mindful of open fires.