Alexander Stubb, famous in the Barents Region for branding the north as the world´s most sexy region, is put on track to take over after Jyrki Katainen.
Russian politician and tycoon Mikhail Prokhorov suggests dividing Russia into federal districts proceeding from economic expedience, not necessarily regional borders.
Russian government management of High North developments, indigenous peoples and cross-border cooperation faces a reshuffle as President Putin abolishes the Ministry of Regional development.
Norway has not frozen all political contacts with Russia, as a Ukraine newspaper reported after an interview with Prime Minister Erna Solberg. “Sloppy translation,” the Prime Minister’s office claims.
Last Barents Council meeting in Norway was the first in history without attendance of a Russian Foreign Minister. Will Lavrov come for the ministerial meeting in Finland this autumn?
The results of Sunday’s parliamentary elections in Finland show a clear, expected win by the opposition Centre Party. The party’s leader, 53-year-old millionaire Juha Sipilä from Oulu in northern Finland is poised to succeed Alexander Stubb as Finland’s next prime minister.
“We have growth all over”, Governor Igor Orlov told President Vladimir Putin this week. However, a closer look at the regional economy shows a different picture.
With Vladimir Putin as Russias prime minister, the federal ministries are bolstered with a number of new powers, while agencies and services lose independence. Among the losers is the State Committee of Fisheries.
United Nations Convention on Law of the Seas (UNCLOS) has never been ratified by USA. During the Arctic Ocean Conference on Greenland, USA has given clear indications that they might change view on this issue.
Head of the Russian State Duma’s Committee of International Affairs says Russia and the EU will be ready to open up for visa-free travel in three years.
U.S. Senator and presidential candidate Barrack Obama calls for a review of Russia’s bid to join the World Trade Organisation following the country’s intervention in the South Ossetia conflict this week.
Climate change is changing all the rules in the Arctic, a region which increasingly is becoming a scene of commercial and territorial conflict, the New York Times writes in today’s editorial.
