Opinion

The problem with the BBC’s mandatory islamophobia training

While the BBC is laying off hundreds of staff, those who remain are being required to complete training on Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hatred. The indoctrination is complete: the BBC expects everyone not only to respect but also to celebrate Muslims and Islam.

But the Shada case refuses to die

VG wanted to draw a line under the Shada case and “give her peace”. The parents are said not to agree with VG’s account. They refuse to speak to VG, and VG does not ask why. Now new information is emerging — details that VG must have been aware of — and these point in a completely different direction from the doctor in the white coat.

Accused of abducting his own children: “I did what any normal person would have done”

The child welfare services can remove children on invalid grounds and face no consequences. But when a concerned parent removes children from a foster home where they are not thriving, the police arrive and charge him with “deprivation of care”. After suffering a crushing defeat in the Agder District Court, the state responded with reporting restrictions—and a new case against the father.

When non-Norwegian becomes Norwegian

If you have grandparents from Pakistan and a mother who came to Norway as a marriage migrant bride, you are every bit as Norwegian as the Hardanger fiddle and brown goat’s cheese. At any rate, you are counted as part of the majority population. All it takes is for one of your parents to have been born in Norway. That also places you in the fastest-growing demographic segment in Norway.

The story the media left out: Sandra’s family ignored deportation orders for 18 years

All of Sweden is crying for 13-year-old Sandra. But behind the headlines about a child being deported lies a story the media would rather not tell: 18 years of rejected applications, appeals, and ignored deportation orders. The question is not why Sandra must leave Sweden – the question is why her mother never did.

Who’s the real Andy Burnham?

Keir Starmer’s chief challenger, Andy Burnham, has been portrayed as a political chameleon, but he will be forced to reveal his true self if he becomes the next Labour leader and Prime Minister. That may prove difficult for a politician known for adopting positions according to the mood of the day and whatever best serves his own career.

The Viking row exposes Norway’s cultural nerves

Norway’s Viking row began as a football celebration. When parliament joined in, it exposed a larger truth: culture, heritage and national symbols still matter — and there should be no shame in that.

Trump’s Iran deal is a strategic opportunity

If Trump’s framework succeeds in silencing the guns, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, reducing risks to Israel and the Gulf region, and creating a diplomatic window to address Iran’s nuclear program, that would be a positive outcome. The question is what happens next. The answer will determine whether this marks a genuine turning point or merely a pause before the next crisis.

AfD consolidates its position as Germany’s largest party, but it won’t matter

Alternative für Deutschland is consolidating its position as Germany’s largest party, but in real-political terms that means nothing so long as those who do not oppose the takeover and Islamisation of the country are, collectively, the larger group.

The Greta Thunberg myth is beginning to crack

Greta Thunberg stepped into a mythological spectacle as an innocent child with moral and intellectual authority who told power the truth. When she is linked to terrorist movements and antisemitism, the myth cracks. It exposes how people let themselves be fascinated by illusion. But when Thunberg is gone, the myth will no doubt find other figures.