Newsletter: A New History Is Being Written in the North

Kiruna rånere
Kiruna's motorheads saying thank you and goodbye to the old city. (Photo: Hilde-Gunn Bye)

Dear reader; A new Arctic city has risen from the iron ore in Swedish Lapland and HNN was there when the ribbon was cut. We also offer a unique insight into the every day of war-critical Russian artists, and we keep a close eye on the security policy and energy crisis in Europe.

Last Friday, an entirely new city opened in the Arctic and High North News’ journalist Hilde-Gunn Bye was there when the old mining town of Kiruna became history. Come along and meet the inhabitants in the brand new city, and not least the motorheads, who has to find new roads to cruise. 

The energy crisis 

The news feed is filled with tragic stories from well-off tax refugees and victims of the energy crisis who find themselves forced to turn off their heated pools. The former is the topic for Editor-In-Chief Arne O. Holm’s commentary: 

«Then there are parents of young children who can barely afford food after paying their electricity bill, or companies and the brink of bankruptcy. They have no Jacuzzi to turn off,” writes Holm. 

More training 

In an interview with HNN’s journalist Hilde-Gunn Bye, State Secretary in the Ministry of Defense Bent-Joacim Bentzen states that training the Norwegian Home Guard to a greater extent has been one of the most essential measures to better facilitate for receiving allied troops. 

Behind the iron curtain 

Several organizations and individuals on both sides of the Norwegian-Russian border work astride prejudice and sanctions to be heard.

 “To show my art in Bodø is like a fresh breath of freedom,” says the Russian artist Ulyana Podkorytova in an interview with High North News. 

The artist from Moscow has recently had showings of her film in Bodø under the auspices of the project Border / No Border. The artist herself could not be present. 

The war in Ukraine continues to also affect shipping in the Arctic. 

For the first time in more than a decade the NSR will not see international transit traffic as operators avoid Russia as a result of sanctions. Could this open the door for a new Arctic route outside Russian waters?

HNN’s journalist Malte Humpert has taken a closer look at the case. 

Feel free to share the newsletter and let us know about relevant issues. 

Wishing you a good weekend on behalf of the editorial staff in High North News,

Trine Jonassen, News Editor 

This news letter has been translated by Birgitte Annie Molid Martinussen

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