Oslo - The Islamic Council of Norway on Monday distanced itself from remarks attributed to a leading Islamic scholar quoted as saying the Holocaust was a "divine punishment" against the Jews.

Yusuf al-Qaradawi, an Egyptian-born, Qatar-based scholar made the alleged comments in a speech on the Arab broadcaster al-Jazeera in January, prompting widespread condemnation.

Dusseldorf, Germany  - Norway snatched a rare 1-0 win over Germany in a friendly international in Dusseldorf on Wednesday.

Christian Grindheim scored from close range in the 63rd minute to get a new spell in charge by coach Egil Olsen off to a winning start.

It was the second successive home defeat by Germany who had been beaten 2-1 by England in Berlin in November.

Norway, who were without a win in 2008, were full value for their first victory against Germany since the 1936 Olympics.

Dusseldorf, Germany  - Norway snatched a rare 1-0 win over Germany in a friendly international in Dusseldorf on Wednesday.

It was the second successive home defeat by Germany who had been beaten 2-1 by England in Berlin in November.

Christian Grindheim scored from close range in the 63rd minute to get a new spell in charge by coach Egil Olsen off to a winning start.

Norway, who were without a win in 2008, were full value for their first victory against Germany since the 1936 Olympics.

Oslo - Norwegian telecommunications group Telenor Wednesday said its 2008 fourth quarter earnings increased year-on-year, but added it would not pay a dividend since it wanted to secure cash flow.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) were 9.9 billion kroner (1.47 billion dollars), compared to 8.8 billion kroner in the corresponding business period of 2007.

Sales in the quarter were up 4 per cent year-on-year to 29.9 billion kroner.

Dusseldorf - Defender Andreas Beck and midfielder Mesut Ozil are set to win their first caps for Germany in Wednesday's friendly international against Norway in Dusseldorf.

Assistant coach Hansi Flick said Monday Hoffenheim right-back Beck, 21, and 20-year-old Werder Bremen midfielder Ozil would play some part in the game.

"We have called up Andi Beck and Mesut Ozil to see how they perform. We plan to play both of them," he said.

Oslo  - Nordic foreign ministers welcomed a report Monday recommending increased cooperation in defence and foreign policy matters - including in the mineral-rich Arctic.

"We face new threats," former Norwegian foreign minister Thorvald Stoltenberg said at a news conference in Oslo attended by the five foreign ministers of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.

Stoltenberg, commissioned last year to write the 36-page report, specified the melting Arctic ice cap and the booming cost of defence technology as areas where closer regional cooperation was needed.