Leirvik North resigns with immediate effect

Oslo news from the past 48 hours has been marked by a change in the municipal executive: Høyre city councillor (byråd) Anita Leirvik North resigned on Friday 30 October with immediate effect, following a censure motion filed by MDG. The same day, Ullevål hospital highlighted a naloxone nasal spray against overdoses, and downtown venues were full for Halloween.

Politics: Oslo news — a Høyre city councillor resigns

Anita Leirvik North announced her resignation on Friday 30 October at 12:00, effective immediately, according to NRK Oslo. The decision comes after several weeks of criticism over the Røabadet case in western Oslo, and after a censure motion against her was submitted by MDG on Tuesday of the previous week.

North served as city councillor for culture and business affairs until May this year, with responsibility for sports facilities and swimming pools. In that role, she managed the Røabadet case, which has become one of the hardest points of conflict in local politics in recent months (NRK Oslo).

In a statement, she says she delivered much of what she wanted and notes that she will not run in the 2027 elections, making her available to hand over the role. She also addresses the personal nature of the attacks, explaining that as the mother of two daughters who are starting to read the newspapers, she considered the situation indefensible, and denounces “gross accusations” (NRK Oslo). Oslo County has been led since 2023 by city councillor leader Eirik Lae Solberg (Høyre).

Health: nasal spray naloxone, a weapon against overdoses

In front of the medical vehicle from Ullevål hospital, in Oslo, doctor Arne Skulberg is holding a small nasal spray containing naloxone. The substance blocks the body's opioid receptors, which makes it possible to quickly interrupt an opioid-related overdose — heroin, fentanyl or morphine — before it becomes fatal (NRK Oslo).

“Overdoses involving morphine derivatives are characterized by patients having a pulse but breathing very poorly. It is exactly within this window that the antidote can be used,” explains Arne Skulberg, who was himself involved in developing the product (NRK Oslo).

The spray is distributed, among others, by the municipality to people who frequent drug-consuming environments, and it can also be bought without a prescription at pharmacies. Its special feature, according to Skulberg, is that it can be administered by people without medical training. NRK Oslo notes a decline in overdose deaths, while pointing to an upward trend that still needs to be monitored.

Halloween: heavy footfall in Oslo venues

Late on Friday 30 October, Aftenposten reported heavy footfall in Oslo’s streets and venues for Halloween, quoting the phrase used in the article published at 23:00: “masse, masse mennesker” — a lot, a lot of people. Friday evening opened the Halloween weekend in the capital, as 31 October falls on a Saturday this year.

On the practical side, The Local Norway published a selection of places to celebrate Halloween in Norway this year, along with a November 2026 events calendar (The Local Norway).

📌 Local briefs

Vaccination: The Local Norway published a practical guide this week on how to get vaccinated against the flu in Norway this autumn (The Local Norway).

ID cards: the Norwegian police are inviting foreign residents to respond to a survey on ID cards (The Local Norway).

Sources: NRK Oslo, Aftenposten, The Local Norway — Period: 30 October 2026 and 31 October 2026