KIRKENES: The Barents Spektakel festival in Kirkenes is larger than ever. One of the main attractions of the 2012 festival is the five young accordionists from North Korea. See the video of their first performance in Kirkenes.

KIRKENES: Transnational ideas and interaction is a powerful engine for development, Guvernor Dmitry Dmitriyenko says in the Kirkenes Conference.

Finnish government plans to slash the number of municipalities in Lapland from 21 to six.

The number of state officials Russia should be cut in half, leader of the Federal Anti-monopoly Service says.

Nenets Oil Company and Northern Arctic University (NARFU) establish a Nenets auditorium in Arkhangelsk and opens a filial in Naryan-Mar.

The Barents cooperation has paved the way for the popularity of using “Barents” in commercial businesses.

Radio Barents 111 is a theatre performance which tries to explore life along the border in the north. Miles away from foreign minister’s negotiations on border regulations; the Samovarteateret wants to figure out why people live in the far north of Europe.

More and more Russians and Chinese tourists visit Kirkenes. Global tourism trends are affecting the snow hotel in Kirkenes.

Murmansk football teams won all matches when Russian and Norwegian footballers from the youngest players and up to senior level met in a friendly tournament in the border town of Kirkenes.

Russian authorities have boosted military salaries to unprecedented levels. Military servicemen in Murmansk now earn twice as much as others.