The Norwegian government has intervened to end a strike by oil and gas workers.
The dispute with employers was referred to an independent board after an industry group said the strikes could cut Norway's gas exports by more than half.
It ends a stalemate that could have worsened Europe's energy supply crunch.
Workers walked out on Tuesday, leading to the closure of three fields, and the union announced more workers would strike later in the week.
“The announced escalation is critical in today's situation, both with regards to the energy crisis and the geopolitical situation we are in with a war in Europe,” Labour Minister Marte Persen said.
“Norway plays a vital role in supplying gas to Europe, and the planned escalation [of the strike] would have had serious consequences for Britain, Germany and other nations.
“The volume impact would have been dramatic in light of the current European situation.”
Lederne union leader Audun Ingvartsen said workers would return to work “as soon as possible”.
“We are cancelling the planned escalation,” he said. Asked whether the strike was over, he said: “Yes”.
Under Norwegian legislation, the government can force parties in a labour dispute to a wage board, which will decide on the matter.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Norwegian Oil and Gas Association, an industry group, said the announced escalation of the strike scheduled for Saturday would slash output.
It said 56 per cent of total gas exports from the Norwegian continental shelf would be cut, apart from a production loss of 341,000 barrels of oil a day.
In a worst-case scenario, Belgium and Britain would not have received any piped Norwegian gas from Saturday, gas pipeline operator Gassco had said, because of the risk of a shutdown at Sleipner, a gas transport centre in the North Sea.
Oil and gas from Norway, Europe's second-largest energy supplier after Russia, is in high demand as the country is considered to be a reliable and predictable supplier, especially with Russia's Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline due to be shut down for 10 days from July 11 for maintenance.
The British wholesale gas price for day-ahead deliveries rose by about 16 per cent on Tuesday, although the price of Brent crude fell as fears of a global recession outweighed concerns about supply disruptions, including the strike in Norway.
“It is unjustifiable to allow gas production to stop to such an extent that this strike in the next few days is estimated to lead to,” Ms Persen said.
Earlier on Tuesday, Norwegian energy company Equinor said it had shut down production at three oil and gasfields after oil workers walked out due to failed wage negotiations. The company said more closures were expected.
The strike came at a time when energy prices have fluctuated as a result of the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and associated sanctions.
“Norwegian deliveries account for a quarter of European energy supplies, and Europe is entirely dependent on Norway delivering as a nation at a time when Russian supply cuts have created a very tight market for natural gas,” said the Norwegian Oil and Gas Association.
“A strike on this scale poses huge problems for countries which are wholly dependent on filling up their gas stores ahead of the autumn and winter,” it said.
Workers walked out after members of the Lederne union rejected a proposal brought by mediators during the wage negotiations.
As with other workers elsewhere, Lederne union members had been concerned about the effects of accelerating inflation on their wages, despite them being among Norway's best-paid offshore employers.
Last week, they turned down a pay rise of between 4 per cent and 4.5 per cent that was negotiated by union leaders and oil companies. Inflation in May stood at 5.7 per cent, year on year.
Under the forced settlement by the government, workers will receive the same terms as the two other oil unions that negotiated deals with employers, although the specifics will be agreed at a later stage, said Ingvarsten, the union leader.
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
MATCH INFO
What: 2006 World Cup quarter-final
When: July 1
Where: Gelsenkirchen Stadium, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Result:
England 0 Portugal 0
(Portugal win 3-1 on penalties)
CONFIRMED%20LINE-UP
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Uefa Nations League: How it works
The Uefa Nations League, introduced last year, has reached its final stage, to be played over five days in northern Portugal. The format of its closing tournament is compact, spread over two semi-finals, with the first, Portugal versus Switzerland in Porto on Wednesday evening, and the second, England against the Netherlands, in Guimaraes, on Thursday.
The winners of each semi will then meet at Porto’s Dragao stadium on Sunday, with the losing semi-finalists contesting a third-place play-off in Guimaraes earlier that day.
Qualifying for the final stage was via League A of the inaugural Nations League, in which the top 12 European countries according to Uefa's co-efficient seeding system were divided into four groups, the teams playing each other twice between September and November. Portugal, who finished above Italy and Poland, successfully bid to host the finals.
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Titanium Escrow profile
Started: December 2016
Founder: Ibrahim Kamalmaz
Based: UAE
Sector: Finance / legal
Size: 3 employees, pre-revenue
Stage: Early stage
Investors: Founder's friends and Family
The years Ramadan fell in May
Off-roading in the UAE: How to checklist
MATCH INFO
Juventus 1 (Dybala 45')
Lazio 3 (Alberto 16', Lulic 73', Cataldi 90 4')
Red card: Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Five expert hiking tips
Always check the weather forecast before setting off
Make sure you have plenty of water
Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
Take your litter home with you
Zimbabwe v UAE, ODI series
All matches at the Harare Sports Club:
1st ODI, Wednesday, April 10
2nd ODI, Friday, April 12
3rd ODI, Sunday, April 14
4th ODI, Tuesday, April 16
UAE squad: Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Mountain%20Boy
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ELECTION%20RESULTS
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
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BlacKkKlansman
Director: Spike Lee
Starring: John David Washington; Adam Driver
Five stars
