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

Marianne Sivertsen Næss

Norwegian Minister of Fisheries: “Fisheries Negotiations With Russia Are Demanding”

Bodø, Northern Norway (High North News): After Norway's introduction of EU sanctions against two Russian shipping companies, the Norwegian-Russian fisheries negotiations have come to a halt after 50 years of cooperation. "It is demanding," says Minister of Fisheries, Marianne Sivertsen Næss (Labor). The parties are now working toward a meeting in the Joint Norwegian-Russian Fisheries Commission.

Anja Salo

The Arctic Council Launches New Podcast: “We Want to Bring the Arctic to the World”

In the following months, High North News will publish the Arctic Council's new podcast, This Way Up. The Head of Communications for the Arctic Council, Anja Salo, says she hopes the podcast will showcase that the Arctic people have many of the answers to the region's issues.

Fra JEF-møte i Bodø

Summit in the North: Agreed on Enhanced Partnership with Ukraine

Bodø (High North News): Eleven defense ministers met in Bodø, Northern Norway, this week to discuss cooperation in the Joint Expeditionary Force coalition. There, the countries signed an agreement on an enhanced partnership with Ukraine.

Notices

POLITICS / 03.11.2025

Russia Boosts Nuclear Fleet With Launch of Khabarovsk Submarine

Russia has officially launched its new nuclear-powered submarine, the&nbsp…

POLITICS / 29.10.2025

Indian Company Wants to Transship LNG at Svalbard

Earlier this fall, Svalbardposten reported that a company of unknown…

POLITICS / 29.10.2025

20 Women Have Applied for Compensation for the ‘Coil Campaign'

20 Greenlandic women applied for compensation for having an IUD or other…

ARCTIC LIVING / 29.10.2025

Nunavut making ‘steady progress’ toward zero tuberculosis cases by 2030

As cases of tuberculosis continue to drop, Nunavut’s Health department…

Sinking of Two Frigates by Norwegian Navy Sparks Strong Reactions

In September, the Norwegian Armed Forces sank two old frigates off the coast of Northern Norway in connection with a NATO exercise. Fishers and nature conservationists have reacted strongly to the incident.

Ved brefronten til Kronebreen i Kongsfjorden ved Ny-Ålesund på Svalbard. (Foto: Fjordic Freshwater Fluxes)

Svalbard Fjord Absorbs More Greenhouse Gases Than It Emits

A new study shows that the Kongsfjord in Svalbard absorbs more greenhouse gases and nutrients than it emits. Researchers believe the Arctic fjord can provide important answers to how nature itself contributes to stall climate change.

High North News investigates: The Russian Gas Flow

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

EU Talks Tough on Russian LNG, But Buys More Than Ever in 2025

The EU energy double standard continues. Just days after agreeing to stop buying…

Also see

EU Imports of Russian Gas Grow Again, Including LNG, Contrasting with Brussels Latest Efforts to Phase Out Supplies

“Time to Turn off the Tap” on Russian LNG Says EU After Trump Pressure

Russian LNG Carrier Stops in Northern Norway’s Honningsvåg, Again

Deepening Russia-China Relations Continue to Drive Oil, Gas, and Container Traffic Along Arctic Shipping Lane

EU Includes Russian LNG in 19th Sanctions Package; U.S. Focuses on Oil Sector Targets Rosneft and Lukoil

In a one-two punch new U.S. and EU sanctions target the Russian energy sector…

EU Ukraine sanctions

EU Council Agrees on Framework for Phaseout of Russian LNG by 2028

The European Union continues to inch toward a full ban of Russian gas. On Monday the…

UK Sanctions Target Russian Arctic LNG, With US Remaining on Sideline and EU Continuing Debate

The UK increased pressure on Moscow with sanctions against major Russian oil…

One Ocean Expedition: Highlighting Social Dimensions of Safe and Green Shipping

Op-ed: During last week’s activities on the Statsraad Lehmkuhl, attention centered on maritime safety in the Arctic, bridging science and society, and advancing comprehensive approaches to ocean research. Nord University contributes to this emerging dialogue, writes Roberto Rivas Hermann and Julia Olsen at Nord University.

Islands utenriksminister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir og Tysklands forsvarsminister Boris Pistorius undertegnet i oktober en intensjonsavtale om styrket forsvarssamarbeid i Reykjavík. Pistorius, som besøkte Island for første gang, understreket regionens betydning for Nato og Tysklands forpliktelse til å øke sitt engasjement der. (Bundeswehr/Christoph Kassette)

Iceland and Germany to Enhance Defense Cooperation

Iceland and Germany recently signed a letter of intent on increased defense cooperation. "We are ready to assume greater responsibility for stability and security in the High North," says the German Minister of Defense, Boris Pistorius.

Arne O. Holm says

Arne O. Holm

More Worried About Putin Than the Security of Norwegian Citizens? Really?

Comment: Altinget's reporter has visited Finnmark. The experience apparently made an impression. After the usual meteorological observations, as every capital-bound journalist must present after a visit to the North for some reason, she introduces claims that are completely removed from our reality in the North.

Healy 2025 summer deployment group team photo compressed

U.S. Icebreaker Healy Wraps up Four-Month Patrol of Arctic, Countering Growing Chinese Presence

U.S. Coast Guard icebreakers Healy and Storis conducted 129-day and 112-day Arctic deployments this summer. A substantial presence increase over previous summers. Both vessels monitored growing Chinese activity in the Arctic.

Most pop oct25

Icebreakers and Defense on Top

Icebreakers, a naval corridor and the Finnish Jaegerbrigade are the most popular stories in High North News in October.

Fra signering av norsk-russisk fiskeriavtale for 2022

Continued Uncertainties Regarding Norwegian-Russian Fisheries Negotiations

The date for the negotiations in the Joint Norwegian–Russian Fisheries Commission about next year's cod quotas has not been determined. However, the parties have agreed to continue the talks, says the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries.

– Jeg vil takke Nordisk råd og juryen for å ha tro på at det selv med et lite språk kan skrives stor og viktig litteratur. Mitt håp er at denne prisen kan bidra til å kaste mer lys over litteraturen som blir skrevet på Færøyene i dag, sier den prisvinnende forfatteren Vónbjørt Vang. (Foto: Melker Dahlstrand/Sveriges riksdag)

Nordic Council Prizes to Faroese Literature and Film

This year's Nordic Council literature prize has been awarded to the Faroese writer Vónbjørt Vang for the poetry collection Svørt orkidé. The council's film prize was also awarded to a Faroese production for the very first time: Seinasta paradís á jørð.

ArcBlue Presentation Arctic Encounter

From Policy to Practice: Advancing Norway’s High North Policy Through ArcBlue Collaboration

"The ArcBlue project provides a comprehensive approach to bridging knowledge gaps in Arctic seafood industries while supporting the goals outlined in Norway’s updated High North policy."

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

EU Talks Tough on Russian LNG, But Buys More Than Ever in 2025

The EU energy double standard continues. Just days after agreeing to stop buying Russian LNG by 2027 new data show that the bloc is importing record-levels of the fuel in 2025, up 7 percent over the same period in 2024.

Scientists Will Freeze Into the Arctic Ice for Research

Next year, a crew of up to 18 will drift across the Arctic Ocean in the new Tara Polar Station research vessel while collecting data and knowledge about the sea ice and the Arctic Ocean.

von der Leyen

EU President Von Der Leyen: "Arctic At Center of European Security and Independence"

European Commission President von der Leyen squarely moved the Arctic to the heart of European security during a speech in Stockholm. “As the ice retreats, the Arctic is moving ever closer to the centre of global geopolitics,” she said.

Oberst Marko Kivelä, sjef for Jegerbrigaden i Lappland, Nord-Finland. (Foto: Astri Edvardsen)

Commander of Finnish Jaeger Brigade Keeps His Guard Up, but Doesn’t Think Russia Will Attack

Sodankylä (High North News): Russia is unpredictable, but unlikely to cross the threshold of NATO's Article 5, says Marko Kivelä, Commander of the Finnish Jaeger Brigade. "At the same time, it is best to be prepared and take measures to avoid such scenarioes," he underscores.

Forsvarsminister Tore O. Sandvik

Bodø Will Host Joint Expeditionary Force MoD Meeting

Norway is hosting the defense minister meeting in the coalition Joint Expeditionary Force at the start of November. The defense ministers of the ten JEF countries will gather in Bodø to strengthen cooperation and security in Northern Europe.