Russia and Norway have renewed the agreement on joint management on the common fish stocks in the Barents Sea.

Gazprom plans to ship 80 to 90 percent of the gas from the Shtokman field in the Arctic to North America as recovery of the world’s largest economy spurs energy use.

Danmark today became the first country to approve the laying of the Nord Stream pipeline in its territorial waters.

Shell Offshore Inc. received approval yesterday from the Minerals Management Services to drill exploratory wells next year in the Beaufort Sea.

Finland’s Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, Paavo Väyrynen, says the country needs a strong organ to coordinate Finland’s activities in the Arctic regions.

Just some few days after Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met Sweden’s Carl Bildt in Murmansk, the talks between the two are closer to conclude a new partnership and cooperation agreement between Russia and EU.

Russia is prepared to develop international cooperation on exploration of the Northern Sea Route, said Artur Chilingarov in a meeting with the Norwegian Barents Secretariat. A representation office can be located in Kirkenes.

MOSCOW -- Russia’s federal and regional governments have undertaken several impressive steps to tackle the concerns of its small number of indigenous peoples, but significant challenges remain in overcoming poverty, unemployment and other social ills, United Nations human rights expert James Anaya said on Saturday.

Finnish transport companies operating across the Finnish-Russian border pay an annual average of more than 50,000 EUR in bribes, YLE reports.

The Russian Ministry of Regional Development will present a new strategy for the development of the Russian Arctic zone before the end of the year.