The road from the Norwegian-Russian border to Murmansk is in better condition than ever. In course of the last two years nearly the entire 240 kilometers long road has got new asphalt.

With a more than one-year delay, Norway and the EU yesterday signed an agreement on EEA contributions for the period 2009-2014. Norway will in the period allocate an annual 347 million EUR to projects in the newest member countries of the Union.

An unprecedented Russian Arctic expedition yesterday set out from Arkhangelsk with the aim to find new evidence, which supports Russia’s territorial claims in the Arctic.

The EU’s foreign ministers on Monday gave their green light for the start of membership negotiations with Iceland. An inclusion of the North Atlantic island in the Union would strengthen the position of Brussels in the Arctic.

Norwegian oil major Statoil has got permission for drilling at the Skrugard field in the Barents Sea. Together with ENI, the company now also seeks permission for drilling at the Lunde field, located closer to land in the area.

-There is no competition between Murmansk Oblast and Arkhangelsk Oblast in issues concerning the development of the Shtokman project, Governor Dmitry Dmitriyenko underlines.

Ecologists from the University of Moscow have come to the Russian border town of Nikel to study the results of seven year’s efforts to recultivate areas destroyed by pollution from Kola Mining and Metallurgy Company’s smelter.

President Dmitry Medvedev has signed a bill enforcing a zero alcohol limit for drivers, the Kremlin said on Friday. Every year, one million Russians are caught for drunk driving.

General Director of mining and metallurgy giant Norilsk Nickel Vladimir Strzhalkovsky in 2009 earned 24.8 million USD, making him one of the highest paid top managers in Russia.

Russia’s newest strategic submarine has returned to Severodvinsk after a two-week sea trail period in the White Sea.

Visiting Finland this week, Russian President Dmitri Medvedev expressed confidence that no lame excuses can be made in relation to the introduction of visa-free travel between EU and Russia. Finland will continue to do everything to support visa-free regime and Norway shares the vision of visa-freedom with Russia.

Loaded with iron ore concentrate, the first ever foreign flag bulk carrier might sail the Northeast Passage in early September. Climate changes with melting Arctic sea ice will change the shipping routes from Europe to Asia, says the Norwegian ship owner Felix Tschudi in this interview with BarentsObserver.

The U.S. Navy and civilian scientists have established a program that enables scientists to use Navy submarines to collect data from Arctic regions that are normally beyond scientists' reach.

The Barents cooperation and movements towards visa-free rules are two of the themes that will be high on the agenda when Russia’s President Dmitri Medvedev meets with Finland’s President Tarja Halonen on Tuesday.

It is not easy for Gunnar Sætra to invite his Russian friends to Norway. Individual Norwegians that want to invite a Russian over for a visit will have to fill in a new form consisting of 41 questions with comprehensive personal details about his relation with the person to be invited.