High North News - News, analysis and debate about politics and business in the North

Viseadmiral Rune Andersen, sjef for FOH

New Chief in the North: The Norwegian Joint Headquarters is Unique in European Context

Bodø (High North News): Vice Admiral Rune Andersen recently took on the role of Chief of the Norwegian Joint Headquarters. As Norway is placed under NATO's command in Norfolk, USA, the headquarters can assume a larger and more important role in the alliance.

Her er Raja-Joseppi, den nordligste grenseovergangen mellom Finland og Russland. Siden sist uke ble all trafikk over grensa mellom landene konsentrert hit. Fra natt til i dag, torsdag, ble også denne grensestasjonen stengt. (Foto: Arne O. Holm)

Finland Closes Border to Russia on Thursday

Finland is closing the last open border crossing point to Russia as of Thursday. "Through this decision, Finland's national security is protected against Russia's hybrid operation," says Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen.

Ny-Ålesund

The World's Northernmost Settlement Gets Mobile Coverage

Ny-Ålesund on Svalbard is the last Norwegian settlement without mobile coverage. Now this small community is also connected to Telenor's mobile network as the world's northernmost base station opened Monday.

Notices

Business / 30.11.2023

Sustainable Clothing Firm by Saami Sisters Won Award

The International Polar Foundation and the Trân Family has announced the…

Politics / 29.11.2023

NATO Foreign Ministers Talk Deterrence, Defence and Support

On Tuesday 28 November, NATO Foreign Ministers discussed pressing security…

Politics / 28.11.2023

New Chief for the Norwegian Joint Headquarters

During an official ceremony last week, Vice Admiral Rune Andersen took…

Science / 21.11.2023

Canada and Greenland Sign Letter of Intent on Arctic Marine Conservation

Recently, Canada and Greenland signed a letter of intent concerning…

Indian og US army

The Polar Tiger: Why India Must Be Included in the New U.S. Arctic Defense Strategy

"India could be a key strategic partner for the U.S. in its efforts to protect the Arctic, which is currently threatened by the increased commercial and military presence of Russia", says researchers at The Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development.

Giga Artic sep 2023

Freyr Battery Lays off 78 Employees

Freyr battery factory is laying off 78 employees, and ten of them work in Northern Norway. Top management is also being reduced.

Daniel Dwyer og Eirik Kristoffersen

NATO's Arctic Commander in Northern Norway

The NATO Commander for the Arctic is in Norway to meet the Defense and the Ministry of Defence. Now he is in Northern Norway to visit the Norwegian Joint Headquarters. "The fact that Vice Admiral Daniel Dwyer spends four days in Norway shows how close and important this relationship is", says the Norwegian Chief of Defense Eirik Kristoffersen.

Life on the Arctic Coast:

Tommy Torvanger.

Life on the Arctic Coast: “Challenging to Get Hold of Labor in the Fisheries Industry”

There is practically a queue to work on the fishing boats in the fisheries group…

Also see

Life on the Arctic Coast: Johan (23) Manages a Fish Factory in Lofoten

Life on the Arctic Coast: Agnete and Her Family Manages a Fish Processing Plant in Skårvågen

Life on the Arctic Coast: Coxswain Kim Roger Stays Calm When Put to the Test

Sigurd Rafaelsen

Life on the Arctic Coast: Sigurd is the Mayor of the Fisheries Municipality Lebesby

Lebesby (High North News): Mayor Sigurd Rafaelsen (37) recently had electoral success with the Labor Party in Lebesby municipality, Northern Norway. He looks forward to the investments of close to NOK 400 million being made in a fish plant and a fishing port – and says that it is creating significant engagement in the municipality in the north of Finnmark.

Factory manager Raimo Sørensen outside Lerøy Kjøllefjord.

Life on the Arctic Coast: Raimo (45) Manages one of Norway's Northernmost Fish Plants

Kjøllefjord, Northern Norway (High North News): Raimo Sørensen started working at the fish landing in Kjøllefjord just over 20 years ago. Today, he manages the facility, which is located in the far north of Finnmark – and in which Lerøy is now investing NOK 158 million.

Ørjan Nergaard i Båtsfjord fiskerigruppe

Life on the Arctic Coast: Ørjan (53) Strives for the Fisheries in Båtsfjord

Båtsfjord (High North News): While several fish plants are struggling or closing down, Ørjan Nergaard from Båtsfjord in Northern Norway is about to establish a new fish producer. "We are a different community up here. We roll up our sleeves, do what it takes, and find solutions," he says about life in the "fishery capital".

På Halifax internasjonale sikkerhetsforum i Nova Scotia denne helgen skisserte Canadas forsvarsminister Bill Blair landets store satsinger på forsvar og ga frampek på nye investeringer. (Skjermdump fra forumet)

Canada With Defense Policy Update on the Horizon

“Here at home, our Arctic sovereignty is increasingly being challenged by Russia and China,” says Canada's Minister of Defense Bill Blair. He announces that an updated Canadian defense policy will be launched in the coming months.

Espen Barth Eide

Norwegian MFA On the Russian Research Voyage in Norwegian Waters: “The Government Is Fully Aware of the Threat Situation in the North”

Norway's approval of a research voyage by the Russian vessel "Akademik Mstislav Keldysh" off the coast of Finnmark in Northen Norway, has provoked strong reactions, including from the Progress Party. MFA Espen Barth Eide (Labor) says that Norway must comply with the law of the sea.

Toktbilde fra Arven etter Nansen 2021

Researchers Witness Clear Changes with Significant Consequences for the Barents Sea

The Barents Sea, as we knew it, is no more, according to a new scientific publication from Norway's largest collaborative project: The Nansen Legacy.

Lisa Murkowski, senator for Alaska (Det republikanske parti), fronter en ny runde med innsats for å få havrettskonvensjonen godkjent i Senatet. – Nå må vi få dette gjort, erklærte hun til stor applaus i salen under konferansen Arctic Circle på Island tidligere i høst. (Foto: Arctic Circle)

Alaska Senator Murkowski With New Push for US Ratification of the Law of the Sea Convention

The ratification of the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea is critical to the US' interests, especially in the Arctic, says Lisa Murkowski, US Senator for Alaska. Now, she and a group of colleagues have put forward a new proposal to get the Senate to finally approve the convention.

Fiskeskøyter ved Røst utenfor Lofoten

Tough Times Ahead for Fishers and the Fisheries Industry as Quotas on Important Stocks are Set to Decrease

Next year, the cod quotas will be significantly reduced, and a major reduction is also expected in the red king crab quota. The Norwegian Fishermen's Association is worried for both the cod stock and the fishers, who are facing more challenging years.

Seljakt

Canada-EU Summit: Will Canada Push For an End to Cultural Violence Against Seal Hunters?

Canada is about to host EU leaders at a summit in Newfoundland and Labrador aimed at strengthening Canadian and EU ties. "This creates an unprecedented diplomatic opportunity for Canada to put the sealing issue back on the table at the summit", says researcher Danita C. Burke.

Giga Vasa

Freyr Continues With Plans for One of Two Factories in Finland

The Norwegian battery company Freyr abandons its plans for the battery cell factory in Finland but keeps the door open for a cathode factory.

Arne O. Holm says

Arne O. Holm mener

Light a Candle for the Salmon

Commentary: On the surface, it looks like a complete PR collapse. Below the surface of the sea, something far more serious is at stake. The salmon industry is at risk of making itself inedible.

Nå er det vedtatt at Grønland skal tiltre Parisavtalen og utarbeide en nasjonal klimastrategi. Strategien skal stake ut klimamål, og retning for hvordan øya skal oppnå økonomisk vekst sammen med grønn omstilling. (Foto: Lisa Ouellette)

Greenland Joins the Paris Agreement on Climate Change

The Parliament of Greenland, Inatsisartut, has decided that the island will join the Paris Agreement on climate policy and design a national climate strategy. "I am proud that we are taking joint responsibility and acting in the face of the climate crisis," says the Greenlandic Minister of Energy and Environment.

Jonas Gahr Støre og forskere på One Planet Polar Summit

Norwegian Government Criticized for Failing to Support Joint Climate Statement

Storting representative for the Norwegian Socialist Left Party, Lars Haltbrekken, questions what he calls "Norway's lack of support" for a joint climate statement during the One Planet Polar Summit in Paris recently.

Tommy Torvanger.

Life on the Arctic Coast: “Challenging to Get Hold of Labor in the Fisheries Industry”

There is practically a queue to work on the fishing boats in the fisheries group Nergård. In the land industry, the situation is the opposite, and the company is struggling to find people with the right expertise. CEO Torvanger believes the government should implement necessary measures to make living along the coast of Northern Norway attractive.

Administrerende direktør Gunnar Moe i Rana Gruber

Rana Gruber With Record-Strong Results in the Third Quarter

The Norwegian mining company Rana Gruber increased production significantly and delivered the strongest quarter in the company's history.