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

Fra havnen i Valdez, Alaska

Increased Oil Drilling in Alaska on the Agenda With New Trump Administration

The oil and gas industry plays a crucial role in the economy of Alaska, but many Alaskans are also torn on the issue of increased oil drilling, says longtime journalist in Alaska, Larry Persily. He shares his view on what a new Trump-administration will mean for oil and gas development in the US' Arctic state.

Forsvarsminister Bjørn Arild Gram (Sp) orienterte tirsdag om status i anskaffelsen av nye fregatter. – Et solid og forutsigbart sikkerhets- og forsvarspolitisk samarbeid er fundamentet for et strategisk partnerskap for anskaffelse og drift av fregatter, og det er avgjørende at Norge og partnernasjonen har gjensidige, langsiktige interesser, understreker han. (Foto: Synne Kvam/Forsvarsdepartementet)

Norway Explores Strategic Partnership With France, the UK, Germany, and the US on Frigates

Norway is to acquire new frigates in a strategic partnership with a close ally possessing coinciding strategic interests and an eye for the High North. France, the UK, Germany, and the US have now been selected as possible partner countries, says the Norwegian MoD.

Tree Planting Is No Climate Solution in the Arctic

Planting trees is a simple and efficient way to mitigate climate change. However, new research shows that planting trees in the Arctic could have the opposite effect and, in fact, increase global warming.

Notices

New report: Nunavut's child poverty rate is the highest in Canada

A new report shows that half of children under the age of six who live in…

Politics / 19.11.2024

Preliminary 2024 Alaska General Election Results

In the Nov. 5 general election, Alaskans voted in races for president and…

Science / 19.11.2024

Iceland ranked 6th on SAD list

A health website has ranked Iceland sixth in the world for risk of SAD - …

Science / 15.11.2024

Luleå University of Technology on Important List

Luleå University of Technology in northern Sweden has eight research…

Celicie Myrseth besøksskatt Svalbard

Tourism Tax in Longyearbyen for Comment

The Norwegian Minister of Industry, Cecilie Myrseth (Labor), is launching a visitor's tax for Longyearbyen. The next phase it to consider how this can be expanded to apply to cruise tourists as well.

Arne O. Holm says

Arne O. Holm

Longyearbyen, Svalbard, From Democracy to Aristocracy of Officials?

Comment, Longyearbyen: I borrow some life experience from a friend living a varied life in Longyearbyen. "There have been some downs," he said, adding, "But there sure have been some uphills as well." Surveys show that the local population is happy in the town, while the business sector struggles in a near-endless bureaucratic anthill.

The USCGC Healy and the Canadian Coast Guard's icebreaker CCGS Sir Wilfrid Laurier at a joint operation in the Beaufort Sea on August 28th. (Photo: Michael Underwood/US Coast Guard) >

US, Canada, and Finland Formalize Cooperation on Polar Icebreakers

The US, Canada and Finland recently signed a memorandum of understanding to begin working together on the design and construction of polar icebreakers. “This is a testament to the strength of allied cooperation in addressing strategic challenges,” say the parties.

High North News investigates: The Russian Gas Flow

Höegh Esperanza floating LNG import ship at Germany’s Wilhelmshaven LNG terminal.

Germany Rejects Vessel Carrying Russian Arctic LNG, But Continues Indirect Imports Via EU Neighbors

Germany’s Ministry of the Economy instructed a state-owned liquefied natural gas…

Also see

LNG Carriers, Oil Tankers and Container Ships Race to Beat the Winter Ice on the Northern Sea Route

Belgium Pushes For Creation of EU-Wide Tracking System for Russian LNG

China’s Wison New Energies At Risk of Sanctions U.S. Official Says as the Delivery of Arctic LNG Power Plant Imminent

EU Efforts to Reduce Russian LNG Ring Hollow as Imports Reach New High

von der leyen

European Commission’s Von Der Leyen Suggests EU Could Replace Russian LNG with U.S. Supply

Political discussions surrounding EU’s imports of Russian liquefied natural gas…

Donald Trump

Trump Presidency Could be Good News for Russia’s Arctic LNG Projects, Though Exact Policy Shift Hard to Predict

The upcoming Trump presidency could provide some relief for Russia’s Arctic LNG…

Arc7 LNG carrier

Arctic LNG 2 Facing Vessel Shortage as Zvezda Shipyard Delays Delivery, Japanese MOL Exits Charter Contract

Sanctions continue to impact Russia’s Arctic LNG 2 project. Japanese operator Mitsui…

High North Tour 2024

Arne O. Holm is Snowbound in Northern Finland and Experiences Kiruna's Cruisers in Their Natural Habitat

Editor and commentator in High North News, Arne O. Holm is forced to park the motorhome in heavy snow in northern Finland, but has a pleasant experience in northern Sweden.

Focus on Arctic Challenges at COP29

The UN's climate conference 2024, better known as COP29, is now taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan. The Arctic is yet again on the agenda, this time focusing on the cryosphere and wildfires, particularly from an Indigenous perspective.

Torsketråler

Major Norwegian Trawling Company's Fleet Impacted By Reduced Fishing Quotas

The fishing quota situation for the remainder of 2024, and the outlook that entails further quota reductions in 2025, are challenging, emphasizes major Norwegian seafood corporation Lerøy Seafood Group in their quarterly report.

Höegh Esperanza floating LNG import ship at Germany’s Wilhelmshaven LNG terminal.

Germany Rejects Vessel Carrying Russian Arctic LNG, But Continues Indirect Imports Via EU Neighbors

Germany’s Ministry of the Economy instructed a state-owned liquefied natural gas terminal operator to reject a shipment of Russian Arctic LNG. The decision affirms the country’s position to not directly import Russian gas via pipeline or as LNG. But German imports of the country’s gas continue indirectly via the continent’s gas network.

Den norske fregatten KNM Roald Amundsen ledsager USS Harry S. Truman langs norskekysten. Hangarskipet er atomdrevet, 333 meter langt, 74 meter høyt – og 78 meter bredt. Om bord er et mannskap på rundt 3200 personer, og om lag 65 fly og helikoptre. (Foto: Ørjan Andreassen/Forsvaret)

US Aircraft Carrier Truman Trains With Norwegian Forces in the High North

The USS Harry S. Truman and its fighters are now conducting interoperability training with Norwegian forces in Northern Norway. "This demonstrates our allies’ ability and willingness to defend Norwegian areas of interest in the North,” says the Commander of the 132nd Air Wing at Ørland Air Station.

Sjefen for den norske ubåttjenesten, kommandør Jim Robertsen, tok nylig imot sjefen for ubåter i Nato, kontreadmiral Bret Grabbe, ved Haakonsvern orlogsstasjon. (Foto: Malene Flekke/Forsvaret)

“NATO Keeps a Close Watch Over Maritime Activity in the North,” Says COMSUBNATO

NATO conducts regular submarine patrols in the North Atlantic and also surveils maritime activity closely using aircraft and surface ships, says the alliance's Commander of Submarines during a visit to Norway. Recently, Norway’s submarine HNoMS Utstein completed a NATO-led patrol in the North.

Arne O. Holm says

Arne O. Holm

The Problem Is Not What Donald Trump Says He’ll Do, but That We Don’t Know What He’ll Do

Kilpisjärvi (Comment): The problem is not what Donald Trump says he'll do. The problem is that no one knows what he's going to do. That will affect the Arctic not just for the four following years but perhaps forever.

Den russiske bosettingen Barentsburg på Svalbard. (Foto: Dag Halvorsen)

Russia’s Company in Svalbard: Strengthens Cooperation With Russian University Sector

Trust Arktikugol, Russia's company in Svalbard, has now entered into a partnership with a fourth Russian university for research and education cooperation. The company is likely to receive over USD 40 million in government funding in the next few years.

USA opererer jevnlig med P-8 Poseidon maritime patruljefly i nordområdene. Kanskje omhandlet søknaden om landing i Longyearbyen et slikt fly. Bilde fra Evenes flystasjon. (Foto: Torbjørn Kjosvold/Forsvaret)

US Military Aircraft Not Allowed to Land in Svalbard

The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected a US application to land a military aircraft at Svalbard airport this summer. "Norwegian authorities apply a very restrictive practice to diplomatic clearance of foreign military aircraft and ships," says the ministry's spokesperson.

Handshake between Espen Barth Eide, on the left and Maroš Šefčovič

Norway and the EU in Agreement on Cod Quotas Outside Svalbard

Norway and the EU Commission have agreed on several issues related to fisheries that arose after the UK left the union.

The Dark Oxygen Research Is Misleading, Says Climate Advisor

Researchers who believe they have found evidence of oxygen production on the deep seabed without the help of sunlight are now facing stark criticism. Climate Advisor Tore Killingland believes WWF exaggerates the findings in its fight against seabed mining in Norwegian ocean areas. Gina Gylver of WWF Norway says it is unsurprising that the industry is trying to discredit the research.

von der leyen

European Commission’s Von Der Leyen Suggests EU Could Replace Russian LNG with U.S. Supply

Political discussions surrounding EU’s imports of Russian liquefied natural gas continue at the highest level. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen broached the subject with re-elected President Trump suggesting supplies from the U.S. could help the continent reduce imports from Russia.

Donald Trump

Trump Presidency Could be Good News for Russia’s Arctic LNG Projects, Though Exact Policy Shift Hard to Predict

The upcoming Trump presidency could provide some relief for Russia’s Arctic LNG project, experts told HNN. Existing sanctions may be eased and new ones could become less likely. The U.S.’ own LNG ambitions, however, could result in price pressure presenting a challenge to Arctic LNG 2 and Novatek.