Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen flew his airship Norge over the North Pole making him and his crew the first people to fly over the northernmost point on the planet On the way, Amundsen's airship stopped at several mooring towers for refueling. One of those towers still stands on Vadsøya, the island just off the coast of Vadsø in the extreme northeast of Norway The Varanger peninsula is a remote and beautiful place and you can only wonder at the sight of this huge airship arriving there in 1926 Amundsen actually boarded the airship at Ny-Ålesund in Svalbard where a similar (if not identical) mast can still be seen The Italian explorer Umberto Nobile came to Vadsø twice en route to the North Pole Today Vadso uses the mast as its emblem on official papers Three hangars filled with meticulously restored aircraft and armored vehicles An extraordinary collection of aircraft and spacecraft on display at the original site of the Boeing Company This distinctive blue and white jet fighter is a symbol of the area’s relationship with aviation A museum of Hungarian military aviation in the middle of a small city This replica pays tribute to the first powered and sustained flight in the United Kingdom and the eccentric aviator who enabled it Once a slice of Cold War-era military history this museum is finding its future in the stars This interactive museum preserves the big aviation history of this small Missouri town The last remnants of a lakeside airport that was bulldozed overnight by the mayor of Chicago Rural areas of Finnmark County keep losing people to big cities. The Barents Observer travels to the remote town of Vadsø to talk to the local community about it. Watch the documentary report "Leaving the North" here Published by: The Independent Barents Observer AS About us The Barents Observer follows the Code of Ethics of the Norwegian Press and the document Right and Duties of the Editor We report under full editorial independence and have no external interference Donate to our independent journalism Støtt oss via Vipps: 105 792 - Det betyr mye newstips@thebarentsobserver.com atle@thebarentsobserver.com thomas@thebarentsobserver.com☏ +47-905 73 143 denis@thebarentsobserver.com georgii@thebarentsobserver.com liza.vereykina@thebarentsobserver.com olesia@thebarentsobserver.com Privacy policy Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Norway’s northernmost region has asked the European Commission to grant it permission to establish a time zone with 26-hour days promoted by a local town mayor in the Arctic Circle near the Russian border increase family time and attract new residents to the region In its letter to the European Commission — which confirmed that it has received the request — the region is asking the EU body to instruct Norwegian authorities to approve the creation of a time zone with 26-hour days instead of 24-hour days How would the new time zones work in practice the mayor of Vadsø who authored the letter “We haven’t thought a lot about that” she said “The clock will go from 12 to 13… and we have to see how this will go I don’t think they’re going to say yes so we haven’t thought about all the details.” the region has been struggling to attract new residents But the mayor is hoping this will change by showcasing the area’s unique values “Through our ‘MOREtime’ project we aim to celebrate and promote this unique way of life offering individuals the opportunity to enjoy more quality time engaging in activities such as fishing or simply being with loved ones,” Vadsø said in a letter “We don’t run after the buses or after the trains or have to take a long time to travel to work and so on,” she added “We are very satisfied with living in a part of Norway where we have more time to be with our friends Pedersen hopes that more people will be inspired to move to the remote region Ensuring that the area is populated is “more important than ever” in light of Russia’s war against Ukraine “We like our lifestyle and we think that could be very exciting especially for families with small children,” the mayor said “I think it’s a more calm and better everyday life than for example in a big city.” but the country is part of the European Economic Area (EEA) While a EU directive regulates summer time arrangements whether it has authority over creating separate time zones is another question time zones are a matter for countries themselves so it’s unlikely that the EU will be able to grant the region’s request Pedersen is hoping to at least spread the word about the uniqueness of northern Norway “In this respect we are one of the richest regions in Europe because […] we have more time,” Pedersen said Grzegorz Braun’s actions have been condemned by both the Polish justice minister and the country’s equality minister Significant foreign aid cuts threaten to undo decades of progress in global health Researchers warn that decades of progress in HIV treatment and prevention could be undone “Europe cannot afford to remain reactive,” the European Commission will warn in strategy to be unveiled on Wednesday Swipe for more photos: Vadsø: Both festival and a conference in Eastern Finnmark Vadsø is early on in attempting to return to normal New Kiruna: A brand new town is built at record-speed in the Arctic New Kiruna 2: The rednecks will also come along to the new Kiruna although they maintain their tradition of taking a round before the old Community Hall Old Kiruna: It will all be demolished or moved The Community Hall: Time is running out for the Community Hall in Kiruna Not everything is new: Some things remain the same (Commentary) Kiruna/Vadsø: The door is ajar while the pandemic ever so slowly loosens its iron fist around the wealthy part of the world or in countries with both democratic and financial deficits it continues its relentless search for new victims I myself have used the re-opening to elope through the door and rediscover a part of the world as it once was I followed the E6 road north from Narvik until meeting E10 where I took a turn and moved towards Sweden In the majestic mountainous landscape around the Bjørnfjell border crossing station: a pre-warning about what happens a few miles further east The iron ore freight trains from Kiruna to Narvik are one of the most fascinating things I know The locomotive hauls 52 truckloads of iron ore which is to be shipped out from the port of Narvik The testimonies of the more-than-120-years old history of the ‘rallarne’ And the train still thunders on down the mountain slopes from Bjørnfjell to Narvik port An overwhelming piece of railway history that is nevertheless still a part of modern industrial efforts in the High North The station buildings along the old railway are prettier and more monumental than any modern office building constructed to manage a stock and property market a market that nevertheless insists that the creation of value goes on on their computer screens Prettier and more monumental than any office building The goal of this “groundbreaking” journey on the outskirts of the pandemic is a brand-new city being constructed in the Arctic The LKAB mining company will spend the next one hundred years or so extracting its iron ore from underneath Kiruna You can hardly get closer to a modern-day company town Though modern… The town has been left at its own device for years and years It is to be demolished and re-created in a quite different location It is an industrial re-location of a rather spectacular kind A local community is demolished in the western Arctic building the new from the ground up is an overwhelming The parking lot before the LKAB main offices is filled to the brim yet the old down-town is derelict and almost empty Swedish rednecks in their shining American vans still insist on driving their usual rounds around the Community Hall At a shut-down petrol station I finally find someone who can direct me to the new Kiruna I drive on towards Jokkmokk when it suddenly emerges More than anything it resembles a giant building construction site just a couple of miles from the Norwegian border though I will not read anything into the apparent illogical progress plan Kiruna had the option to either re-locate or die I leave Kiruna and head towards Jokkmokk and Arjeplog The road winds through endless Swedish forests on roads so straight that my motorbike whines with boredom the parking lots before Konsum and ICA are occupied by Norwegian cars and the queue before the Junkerdalen border crossing test station is long With a valid Corona certificate on my mobile phone I put on a face mask and board a Widerøe plane I head for Vadsø and the first in-person High North conference since the world shut down It proves to be a flight without straight lines The airports are located close to one another along the Finnmark coastline a flight almost as long as Oslo – New York has invited us to an industrial viva in a part of Finnmark overshadowed by the oil industry The most recent and brutal UN climate report was perhaps not quite the backdrop the oil industry wanted the most when meeting in person for the first time in a very long time Nor is it a dream scenario for State Secretary Lars Andreas Lunde of the Norwegian Ministry of Oil and Energy who visits East Finnmark for the first time ever in his life It is also the first time he attends an in-person meeting as a State Secretary for a politician who had his debut during the pandemic she places her trust in the Green Shift benefiting the rural areas There are ambitious industrial plans for this part of Finnmark A different historic dinosaur from pre-pandemic times almost blows my unused eardrums when day turns into night in Vadsø is on the outdoor stage of what was once the county capital before the forced merging of Troms and Finnmark The Varanger Festival has to be one of the very first post-pandemic festivals the festival fills its many stages with ear-pleasing sounds that to many have grown into a faint memory by now Yet not everything feels new and strange these days The alarm has barely screeched when I receive an incoming text from Widerøe Bus for plane when you are going from the eastern parts in the High North to the southern part of the High North is both familiar and inevitable High North News is not responsible for the content or opinions expressed on external web pages Editor in Chief:Trine Jonassen E-mail High North News Editor/Commentator: Arne O. HolmTel: (+47) 905 29 472 Journalist:Hilde-Gunn Bye Journalist:Astri Edvardsen Translator:Birgitte Annie Molid Martinussen rescue vehicles and ambulances are this winter to be delivered as aid to Ukraine The first few have already arrived and are in service with local medics and fire brigades The fire truck from Vadsø is likely the one with the longest drive Øien drives south together with another fire truck the town just next to the border with Russia in the north Both Vadsø and Kirkenes are among the municipalities in Northern Norway that have not abandoned their friendship agreements with Russian cities as a consequence of the war in Ukraine Kirkenes has a friendship deal with Severomorsk the headquarters of the Russian Northern Fleet Murmansk also sent a fire truck to Ukraine, Governor Andrey Chibis could tell on his Telegram channel on Wednesday “Our new republics today need the support of their colleagues the one sent from Murmansk to Russian occupied Donetsk region was armored RU 21 — the day Putin announced the “partial” mobilization in Russia — several individuals in military and police uniforms came to Suetin's home in the town of Severomorsk He chose not to open the door and the next day left for the Norwegian town of Vadsø he went to the police and applied for political asylum and he was ordered to leave the Schengen zone within three weeks The immigration authority admitted there was no official decree ending the mobilization but claimed that draft notices aren't being sent out anymore adding that the Russian army's ranks were instead being filled by volunteers lured in with big cash payouts The Norwegian officials also said that Russia does not prohibit men of conscription age from leaving the country nor are there cases of people being arrested after returning home during the mobilization period the person currently living in his apartment has said that the Russian Defense Ministry has continued to inquire about Suetin's whereabouts over the past two years A representative of the Norwegian human rights organization “SmåRådina: For Democracy in Russia” told The Insider that Suetin would be able to appeal the asylum denial to a higher authority: This isn't the first time Western countries have made decisions about asylum seekers by accepting statements from Russian officials at face value Rumors of a new wave of mass conscription into the Russian army have persisted ever since — particularly intensifying after Ukraine began its incursion into Russia’s Kursk Region but it lacks the equipment and resources to support them creating another mobilization wave would carry significant political risks for the Kremlin as those who could be persuaded to agree to fight have already been drafted making any future efforts to significantly expand the military’s ranks much more challenging The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) recently assessed “that Russian efforts to reorganize Russia's decentralized regional recruitment efforts into a broader federal effort indicate that Russia is struggling to meet the manpower demands of its war in Ukraine and that Russian President Vladimir Putin remains averse to involuntary mobilization for the moment.” We really need your help! 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Сделано в Charmer устарел и не позволяет корректно отображать сайт Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications InstagramXThreadsSnapchatTikTokYouTubeLAD Entertainment Home> News> World News You’re sat at your desk at 3pm in the afternoon but it feels like you’ve been there for 11 hours And while you might not be able to think of anything worse than it getting any longer one region of a European country wants to scrap 24-hour-days in favour of 26-hour ones The region has asked the European Commission to give it permission to establish a new time zone with these whopping 26-hour days A press release said the spot 'requires an extension of the day from 24 to 26 hours' because of the 'special feeling of peace and tranquility that allows a different concept of time' This pretty bizarre plan was put forward by the mayor of the remote town of Vadso in Norway The European Commission has confirmed it's received this time-bending request as the mayor says the 26-hour day would enable people to take part in ‘activities such as fishing we aim to celebrate and promote this unique way of life,” the Finnmark County town said in its letter The mayor told Politico: “What is the good thing about living here “We don’t run after the buses or after the trains or have to take a long time to travel to work and so on,” she added Pederson did admit to being unsure of just how exactly this unique time zone would work “We haven’t thought a lot about that,” she said “The clock will go from 12 to 13… and we have to see how this will go I don’t think they’re going to say yes so we haven’t thought about all the details.” The mayor hopes that with the extended days more people will be inspired to move to Vadso which she added is ‘more important than ever’ in light of Russia’s war against Ukraine The remote town in the Arctic Circle is near to the Russian border It’s a bid of a muddle over who would and if they would grant the region’s request for the separate timezone but either way Pederson hopes this whole thing at least draws attention to the uniqueness of the northern area of Norway So if you were thinking this sounded like a marketing stunt to promote the region.. “In this respect we are one of the richest regions in Europe because […] we have more time,” Pedersen added Topics: Travel, World News, Weird Jess is a Senior Journalist with a love of all things pop culture Her main interests include asking everyone in the office what they're having for tea waiting for a new series of The Traitors and losing her voice at a Beyoncé concert She graduated with a first in Journalism from City Welcome to BirdLife International en As a global Partnership We have translated as much content in your language as our resources allow Please visit the English language site to view all of our content There is currently a very serious outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza in Finnmark It was reported that just in the municipality of Vadsø 15 000 kittiwakes have died in the past three weeks The Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) could go from being ‘endangered’ to ‘critically endangered’ on the Norwegian Red List in the span of a few tragic summer weeks Yet environmental authorities are not getting involved WARNING: GRAPHIC AND SENSITIVE CONTENT Unprepared for a predictable disaster Major bird flu outbreaks in European wild bird populations are sadly no longer a rare occurrence there was a huge number of gannet deaths in the UK and dead and sick birds stranded along the Norwegian coast BirdLife Norway says it is surprising that Norwegian authorities are acting as if they did not see the outbreak in Norway coming at all.  The wrong authorities are involved In Norway the government’s primary concern is that the disease in wild birds will spread to poultry and geese and result in significant financial losses the Norwegian Food Safety Authority and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food have been assigned to handle the bird flu outbreaks the ones that are at risk – and dying – are seabirds The best way to prevent the outbreak in poultry livestock is to firstly prevent the outbreak Birds are under greater threat than ever before and this virulent strain of bird flu cannot be categorised as a natural process and left to wreak havoc.  As the current outbreak is first and foremost a nature conservation challenge BirdLife Norway has called on their government to appoint the Ministry of Climate and Environment and the Norwegian Environment Agency as responsible to halt the ongoing tragedy The Norwegian government must act to protect nature BirdLife Norway requests immediate action  BirdLife Norway demands that environmental authorities take immediate action and to become transparent with information and findings BirdLife Norway is gathering information on the outbreak primarily through its own network of local offices Alongside demanding the environmental authorities information on which areas and species are affected as well as the prognosis for the species and areas in question moving forward they want to know what the State will do to prevent this crisis from getting worse How do they intend to stop the flu from spreading to other parts of the country and to other bird populations?    BirdLife Norway has already detected – through the collection of dead birds by volunteers – that the infection has spread to several other species such as Common Gull (Larus canus) White-tailed Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) This is not the first time that the Norwegian government fails seabirds and nature at sea It has been promising a Seabird Action Plan since 2016 This plan would lay out measures to improve the situation of seabirds and prevent them from becoming even more threatened than they are Preparedness for eventual influenza outbreaks should naturally be part of it.   it would appear that this work is being postponed deliberately by the government BirdLife Norway claims it is in a bid to protect vested interests with a financial interest in doing business that will impact seabird habitats and populations the State has allowed new oil and gas extraction plants in important seabird habitats the facilitation and establishment of intensive sea-based aquaculture new extraction of seabed minerals in vast areas of the ocean All this without an action plan for seabirds.   Norway is simply failing its seabirds.   You can read more about the bird flu here.  Solbakken and Martin Eggen – BirdLife Norway  The acrobatic pirate of the sky is our migratory bird of the month. This beautiful seabird has a slight problem with kleptomania, read all about it! Seabirds will have the chance to recuperate their declining populations again. The summer is here, and the seabirds and their parenting skills are put to a test. What are their parenting styles? And is anyone still mama-birding (so 2010)? Norway’s northern regions of Finnmark and Troms are battling the largest outbreak of bird flu ever seen in the country mostly seagulls and the protected kittiwake have been found in the Vadsø area alone and the virus was also found in a young dead fox in Tromsø On Monday Civil Defense troops were called in to help collect and dispose of dead birds found along the coast and farther inland Local officials have been sending out calls for help for weeks and Agriculture Minister Sandra Borch of the Center Party responded on Tuesday with plans to visit the Vadsø area on Thursday “This situation demands attention also at the national level,” Vadsø Mayor Wenche Pedersen of the Labour Party wrote in a letter to Borch on Monday “We therefore repeat our invitation to come to Vadsø to see this wildlife tragedy that’s unfolding here.” Pedersen was clearly frustrated by her own Labour-Center government for failing to offer more help earlier Local officials are having to use major resources to clean up and try to prevent the spread of the virus “A small municipality can’t take the responsibility alone when such a major challenge confronts us,” Pedersen wrote One restaurant in Vadsø had to close because of all the dead birds lying around outside it Food safety authorities at the state agency Mattilsynet for which Borch’s agriculture ministry is responsible ranks the outbreak of bird flu as the largest ever while other researchers equate it to a pandemic “It’s of course very serious for all the birds that are dying but especially the threatened species like the krykkjer (kittiwake),” the agency’s managing director Ingunn Midttun Godal told Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) She was referring to the species that often nests in large colonies perched on either cliffs or the window ledges and roofs of buildings Mattilsynet has been working with the state veterinary institute the state environmental agency Miljødirektoratet the public health institute FHI and nature research agency NINA to hinder the spread of the virus that literally flew into Finnmark but has also been detected in Troms sick birds have reportedly landed on residential lawns and even balconies NewsinEnglish.no/Nina Berglund If you like what we are doing, please consider a donation. It is easy using PayPal, or our Norway bank account. READ MORE NewsInEnglish.no is a free and independent Oslo-based website offering news from Norway It’s run on a voluntary basis by veteran journalists keen to share insight into Norwegian politics Artists from various Arctic corners are now in place in Vadsø for Saturday's Pan-ArcticVision – a new and distinctive exercise in creating contact and unity across borders in the north People are welcome to participate and award points; be it first-hand in Vadsøhallen at one of the international viewing locations for streaming – or in the thousands of homes says Artistic Director Amund Sjølie Sveen – and welcomes us to the border-crossing building of the Arctic community Norsk versjon. A northern twist on the Eurovision Song Contest A collection of artists from almost the entire Arctic The show is part of the Varanger festival – with complete film production for international live streaming The PanArcticVision will be a completely new presentation of Arctic music and community says the invitation from the initiator Nordting – an artistic popular movement in the North.  kunstnerisk leder og vert for PanArcticVision samt politisk og kunstnerisk leder i Nordting "We are doing this because it is important to build community in the Arctic – across the nation states that we are usually so oriented within," says Amund Sjølie Sveen Artistic Director of Pan-ArcticVision and leading figure in Nordting "People in the circumpolar North have so much in common but we usually travel south to the capitals of our countries rather than around the Arctic region we want to entice border crossing – more contact and interaction – across northern peoples and cultures." Sveen points to common denominators in history and geopolitical starting points; climate and living conditions – as well as experiences of being on the edge: be it on the map – Brings together several Arctic solo artists – Live-stream from 18:00 (CEST / UTC +2 / GMT +2) at www.panarcticvision.org/ – Organized by Nordting in collaboration with the Varanger festival and several other international partners – Nordting is, in its own words, "a nomadic people's parliament for the North, a party for the periphery – and a separatist movement for the Arctic colony" Pan-ArcticVision is also based on a northern power analysis. "The idea emerged on my many travels in the Arctic, within the framework of Nordting, where I explored ideas around independence and self-government. The experience of the capital – the center of power – being far away is recognizable to many in the north of the world," says Sveen and continues: "Among other places, I went to the Faroe Islands and learned about the Faroese idea of independence. 'It's not very high on the agenda now,' said someone I spoke to. 'But it ignites when attention is drawn to the fact that people cannot participate in the Olympics and the Eurovision Song Contest under their own flag.'" The artistic director brings things together: "By extension, we will give the stage and podium to the northern territories, which cannot display their own flag and identity in various contexts. Like Greenland and the Faroe Islands, both parts of the Danish state. Alaska and Sápmi are also other examples." Pan-ArcticVision is thus part of an ongoing discussion about independence in the North. Also central to the project is creating a counterweight to geopolitical conflict between the states – and strengthening the basis for Arctic cooperation, which today has a fragile feeling to it. Interaction at arenas such as the Arctic Council and the Arctic Arts Summit is partly on ice in the wake of Russia's war against Ukraine and Western counter-sanctions. Greenland (Kalaallit Nunaat) got its own flag in 1985, called Erfalasorput ('our flag'). It was designed by Thue Christiansen, a Greenlandic artist, teacher, and politician. The circle with a red over white part symbolizes the sun rising over the polar ice cap – while the colors refer to the Danish flag. (Photo: Nordting/Jamie Michael Bivard) The political power lies in the south, the economical power lies in the south, the power of definition lies in the south. PanArcticVision is the biggest, craziest, and most beautiful project Sveen has been involved in. The scale is, as mentioned, circumpolar. He elaborates on the madness and the beauty: “Bringing together artists from such different geographical locations and time zones is a project against almost all odds. We are talking about traveling enormous distances – with challenging communications and many detours. It is both time-consuming and expensive. We will also show PanArcticVision in several countries. When we start in Vadsø at 18.00 Norwegian time, it is 08.00 in Alaska – and then we have all the other time zones.” “The beauty is found in people being so excited and engaged. I find that the idea has captivated many. They have likely seen Eurovision and got an impression of the European community that is created within this framework. In this project, we will build a different community. One that is between people of the North who live in small places and share many similar life circumstances and experiences. We are all, for example, familiar with snowy winters and bright summer nights.” Alaska's flag symbolizes the star pattern Ursa Major (Latin), Big Dipper (American), Karlsvogna (Norwegian), and Dávggát (Northern Sami). The flag came about through a competition in 1927 in which school pupils submitted proposals. The design of 13-year-old Benny Benson from the fishing village of Chignik won the competition. The name Alaska is derived from the Aleutian Al-ya-ek-sa, which means 'the great land' or 'that against which the sea breaks.' (Photo: Nordting/Jamie Michael Bivard) On Saturday evening, Sveen will host the event together with Dávvet Bruun-Solbakk. Journalist and activist Bruun-Solbakk has, among other things, led Sápmi Pride twice in Norway. In the run-up to the show, Sveen gets the opportunity to make an appeal to people around the Arctic region: “This event is open to everyone! We hope that as many people as possible will join us and create Arctic unity. Either physically, from your computer screen – or as an audience on big screen screenings in various countries.” There will also be no shortage of festivities: “We promise you flags and confetti, politics and sequins, glitter and reindeer antlers, criticism and music, voting and points!” The Sweeties – Whitehorse in the Yukon, Northwest Canada. This duo, consisting of Fiona McTaggert and Patric Hamilton, plays bluegrass, rock'n roll, and a flurry of tunes from the 1890s – taken from the American Sacred Harp songbook. They mix this with heavy guitar riffs, guttural drums, and Black Sabbath square dance. Áilu & Aleksi – Enare (Anár), Northern Finland/Sápmi. Ailu Valle raps in Northern Sami, Finnish, and English and is a major artist in the Finnish part of Sápmi. He has released three albums in Northern Sami and won the Finnish state's culture prize in 2019. In Vadsø, he performs with the juggler Aleksei Niittyvuopio – who can make many things move through the air in an impressive and almost poetic way. The duo is ready to lift the audience to heaven! MÁ / Marita Isobel Solberg – Tromsø/Manndalen (Romssa/Olmmáivággi), Northern Norway/Sápmi. Solberg is a border-crossing Arctic person and multi-artist. She is Sami, Kven, and Norwegian – and creates music, stage performances, and art exhibitions. She comes to Vadsø as MÁ, a duo formed with Risto Puurunen from Joutsa, Finland. Together they offer boundless arctic beauty. Sköll – Båtsfjord, Northern Norway. This band plays hard punk with a hint of rock. Or "noise from Båtsfjord", according to the members themselves. With ages ranging from 15 to 19, Rudi Garstad, Chris Emil Utne, Kamila Sandulskyte, and Remy Christer Wærnes are the youngest – and most hardcore – participants at Pan-ArcticVision. In Norse mythology, Sköll is the wolf that chases the sun across the firmament. When the wolf finally swallows the glowing ball, the world has come to an end... Se dette innlegget på Instagram Et innlegg delt av katia gilman (@gilmanworld) This article was originally published in Norwegian and has been translated by Birgitte Annie Molid Martinussen p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Helvetica; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000}p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Helvetica; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000; min-height: 13.0px}span.s1 {font-kerning: none} Kirkenes has for decades been a stronghold for Norwegian military intelligence The border town has housed several key installations and facilities the resurgent power with which Norway has an increasingly complex and difficult relationship the town located a two-hours drive to the northwest Representatives of the service are in Kirkenes today to inform local employees about the decision Head of military intelligence Morten Haga Lunde says that the re-structuring will not imply any staff cuts but rather geographical changes in the region» He does not want to comment on the reasons for the decision «The Intelligence Service must adjust its activities to the assignments given the challenges we have and the challenges we see coming» «Modernization and improved efficiency is a continuous process for the Intelligence Service» Kirkenes town Mayor Rune Rafaelsen confirms to the Barents Observer that he has on Wednesday morning met with intelligence representatives and discussed the re-organization of the service «I am very disappointed about the decision to move jobs away from Kirkenes» The intelligence facilities in Kirkenes have long been considered top priority and the re-organization consequently comes as a surprise The Brønnøysund State Register Centre still lists Station Kirkenes, the local Kirkenes intelligence division, as a separate legal entity. However, the website of the Norwegian Armed Forces no longer includes the Station Kirkenes among its units the Kirkenes facilities are subordinated to a new Station Varanger a structure which includes both Kirkenes and Vadsø «The Military Station Varanger is a listening and observation station It also has responsibility for an administrative and support element at Høybuktmoen and a [data] collection unit at Viksjøfjell both of them located in the municipality of Sør-Varanger» The Station Kirkenes was established in 1947 Pan-ArcticVision offers a stage for Arctic music and community are all the artists who were part of the event's first edition in Vadsø a Norwegian coastal town located 70 degrees North The audience then voted Greenland as the host of this year's Arctic festivities This year's Pan-ArcticVision will take place in Greenland in October – and calls for contributions from Arctic artists with northern tones and words to express This is an adventurous opportunity to form border-crossing bonds and strike a blow for the power of definition in the circumpolar north Norsk versjon A brand new and distinctive event for Arctic music and community A Eurovision Song Contest for the circumpolar North With a northern power analysis as its origin and foundation That is how Pan-ArcticVision was introduced in 2023, with Vadsø in Eastern Finnmark, Northern Norway, as its first location. This year's edition is now in the works – and Arctic artists are encouraged to sign up for the show taking place this fall in Greenland (Kalaallit Nunaat) The deadline for registration is Wednesday "If your goal is fortune and fame and a golden first prize you should maybe look elsewhere," says Amund Sjølie Sveen, Director of Pan-ArcticVision as well as artistic and political director of Nordting.  meet new friends and colleagues; if you want to challenge the understanding of the Arctic if you want to share your music and bring power and independence to the North – then the Pan-ArcticVision is perfect for you!" Pan-ArcticVision is owned and organized by Nordting, an artistic people's assembly in the North. Together with local partners they are looking for participants from the following places:  • Will gather 10 artists from 10 places in the Arctic • The show will be live-streamed with a full TV production • Organized by Nordting in collaboration with Katuaq – Greenland Cultural Center and the Greenlandic broadcaster KNR "a nomadic people's parliament of the North a separatist movement for the Arctic colony." Pan-Arctic Vision welcomes contributions within the following framework: composition – whatever can be performed live on stage by yourself (and possibly some more people) Time limit is approximately 4 minutes," writes the organizers and continues: "Even if this event is named Pan-ArcticVision we are not looking for your typical «Eurovision song»: The Pan-ArcticVision is about the local cultures of the Arctic and local fusions of styles (no English for those who are not native English speakers)." "We want lyrics concerning local and northern issues and feel free to include political topics We are looking for professional contributions or worldview – and the avant-garde is Read more about registration at Pan-Arctic Vision's website • The place in the Arctic that really needs a price and deserves to host the next edition of the Pan-ArcticVision: Greenland • Most Arctic song: "Takutillara", Nuija - Nuuk • Most revolutionary song: "Skansen", Sköll – Båtsfjord • The song that gives the strongest sense of community and togetherness: "Blátt myrkur", Guðrið Hansdóttir – Velbastaður Foreign News ReporterPublished: Invalid Date NORWAY has revealed a bizarre plan for 26-HOUR days so people can have more time to be with their loved ones or learn a new language It would see clocks go up to 13 instead of 12 in the country's Arctic north in a push to attract more people to the Russia-neighbouring region was in charge of sending the proposal to the European Commission Wenche Pedersen urged the commission to enable Norway to establish a time zone with days lasting 26 hours rather than 24 She explained that a 26-hour day would give people more time to take part in "activities such as fishing we aim to celebrate and promote this unique way of life," the town of Vadso said in a letter “We don’t run after the buses or after the trains or have to take a long time to travel to work and so on. “We are very satisfied with living in a part of Norway where we have more time to be with our friends, with our family and together. Pedersen claims that the area has had trouble drawing in new citizens, so by highlighting the distinctive qualities of the community, the mayor hopes to alter this. especially for families with small children,” Pedersen said But when asked how would the new time zone work in practice She said: "We haven’t thought a lot about that "The clock will go from 12 to 13… and we have to see how this will go I don’t think they’re going to say yes so we haven’t thought about all the details." Norway is a component of the European Economic Area (EEA) even though it is not a member of the EU Summer time arrangements are governed by an EU regulation although it is unclear if this directive also has the power to establish different time zones.Time zones are an international issue thus it's unclear whether the EU will be able to accommodate the request Pedersen nonetheless wants to make people aware of how special northern Norway is “In this respect we are one of the richest regions in Europe because […] we have more time,” she said Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/ Police in the far northern Norwegian city of Vadsø are baffled and residents stunned by the murder last weekend of a young Norwegian man fatally stabbed while on duty at a local grocery store one of many who fled Afghanistan and sought refuge in Vadsø three years ago and local residents don’t want the murder to tarnish the image of asylum seekers “It’s terrible what happened,” Inger Hirsti who owns a shop adjacent to the grocery store “We’ve had only good experience with people moving here and there are many of us with different backgrounds who live here together It would be stupid for a single incident to damage that.” an administrative center for a large area of Finnmark with a population of just over 6,000 has a long tradition of taking in and settling asylum seekers which features a large monument to immigrants from Finland has often ranked as the city in Norway that settles the most refugees on a per capita basis Police were struggling to find a motive for the murder Saturday evening and the victim’s family made it clear through their attorney that they didn’t want to speculate on one “They want the police to be allowed to do their job and find the answers that way,” Edil Hennie Olsen the attorney provided by the community to help the family “There have over time been a lot of people from Afghanistan in Vadsø and there still are The family doesn’t want this (the murder) to in any way create problems for them.” Police are seeking a psychiatric evaluation of the 17-year-old who arrived in Norway alone and has no family in Vadsø Aftenposten reported that the 17-year-old attended the same school as Pedersen but the two were in different classes and reportedly not acquainted with one another leader of the Greens Party in Finnmark who works on integration projects told Aftenposten that local asylum seekers and refugees were distancing themselves from the murder “They are frustrated and sad,” Shariati said “This is a big tragedy for everyone.” Local officials were the targets of criticism from one of Pedersen’s colleagues The colleague claims he warned them earlier about the defendant’s behaviour several weeks ago Strand declined specific comment but claimed that when such warnings come in Police had questioned around 30 people as of Wednesday secured surveillance camera video of the murder scene and questioned the assailant who has denied criminal responsibility but said to be cooperating with police A court has ordered him held in custody while the police continue their investigation newsinenglish.no/Nina Berglund You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience The Icelandic man suspected of shooting his 40-year-old half-brother to death in Mehamn He was remanded in custody and solitary confinement for four weeks last night A week-long custody had been requested for another Icelander The latter man denies any involvement in the crime The main suspect chose not to respond when asked whether he was guilty of the crime of which he is suspected The man has a long criminal record in Iceland he has in the past 20 years been convicted numerous times in Iceland for various crimes The last sentence he received was 15 months in prison for driving under the influence of drugs he also violated parole after being sentenced for holding a person captive Among his longest sentences is 22 months in prison in 2002 he was sentenced to two years in prison for holding a man captive and for serious assault He has refused to talk to the police in Norway until an Icelandic interpreter can be present The arrival of the interpreter has been delayed “We’ve been walking house to house in the neighborhood knocking on doors and asking questions,” states Silja Arvola public relations officer for the Finnmark police force the Norwegian National Criminal Investigation Service “We’d also like to question a few individuals in Iceland,” Arvola adds The Norwegian police have requested information about the suspects from the Icelandic police About 38 Icelandic citizens reside in the Gamvik district in Finnmark Family and friends of the deceased have started a fundraising effort to cover the cost of his funeral and of transporting his body to Iceland this will increase time spent with family and attract new residents the Politico website reported on Wednesday A project called MOREtime has been submitted to the European Commission in which the Vadso region appeals to the EU to influence the Norwegian authorities to create a time zone with 26-hour days Pedersen admits that details on how to make this change in practice have not been agreed. "The clock will be moved from 12 pm to 1 pm Documentary on Wizkid's global success to premiere at Tribeca Film Festival 2025 These 9-to-5 Outfits Deserve Their Own Raise 50 Bible verses about hope to uplift you in difficult times She hopes the lengthening of the day will attract more people to move to this remote region the population of this area is "more important than ever" in connection with the conflict between Russia and Ukraine The mayor adds that additional hours can also be spent on meetings with family and hobbies Norway is not a member of the European Union but is part of the European Economic Area (EEA). The EU directive regulates arrangements for seasonal time changes but not the creation of separate time zones This article was originally published on Onet Travel A murder trial beginning this week in Northern Norway points up the lack of security and even potential hazards facing newly arrived foreign spouses of Norwegian citizens So-called “love-” or “marriage-immigrants” are often utterly dependent on their Norwegian spouses and that can leave them vulnerable to exploitation and dangerous situations The trial that began Monday in the Øst-Finnmark Court in Vadsø illustrates an ultimate worst-case scenario A 59-year-old Norwegian man from Kirkenes is charged with murdering his 37-year-old wife from Thailand and her 12-year-old son before turning his rifle on himself on a late summer night last August He survived and has admitted to the shootings but he denies he’s guilty of a criminal offense after recovering from his wounds sufficiently enough to testify that he doesn’t remember anything from the shootings The murders shocked Kirkenes and not least its Thai community which includes several Thai women who have married local Norwegian men Immigrants can often be viewed as a positive new resource for many of Norway’s small- and medium-sized towns how the percentage of women living in Bygde-Norge (Small-town Norway) has taken a dive in recent years with many young female residents opting to move to Oslo or other cities “There aren’t many women here,” confirmed one young man living in Stor-Elvdal he experienced the same as what’s prompted men elsewhere in Norway to find wives abroad; a sheer lack of eligible partners Researchers hasten to note that the vast majority of those marrying Norwegians and moving to Norway end up with good lives in what’s been ranked as the world’s happiest country They don’t receive anywhere near the state support offered to refugees in terms of language training and integration programs and often find themselves dependent on their spouse or spouse’s family who marry Norwegian men have admittedly sought a better life in Norway and stuck in them because of controversial clauses in Norwegian immigration law “We have been warning the authorities (about the three-year rule) for years but no politicians dare to touch it,” Tove Smaadahl leader of Norway’s Crisis Center Secretariat “The three-year rule gives Norwegian men in trans-national marriages enormous power Many (women) remain in dangerous relationships because they’ll be thrown out of Norway if they leave their husband before three years have passed.” In some cases the Norwegian spouse dumps their foreign partner before the three years are up which also generally means the foreigner will be expelled from Norway Newspaper Aftenposten reported a case over the weekend of an Asian woman who met and married a Norwegian man and moved with him and her two children to Norway all three were subjected to physical abuse and when he lost his job they were forced to work night and day in a restaurant to pay him NOK 20,000 a month couldn’t understand the language and had no idea about any rights she had “Some of these men behave in a way you can hardly believe,” Gro Wildhagen an attorney who has represented many foreign spouses in Norway “Most people have no idea how serious these cases can be.” Guri Tyldum of the Oslo-based research institute Fafo has studied trans-national marriages for years knows the language and how Norwegian society functions while their spouse from abroad is a foreigner without the language or a network Many of the Norwegian men who marry foreign women are themselves lonely in Norway meaning the couple can live an isolated life How they manage remains mostly up to their spouses since Norwegian politicians “have largely left their integration up to the men they married For those who found a kind man willing to help them integrate while others find themselves with unresourceful or even violent men.” Norway’s acting government minister in charge of immigration and integration and his conservative Progress Party have been stressing the need for integration for years He and fellow minister Sylvi Listhaug have mostly seemed to make integration the responsibility of the new immigrant and Sandberg wouldn’t comment on the lawyers’ claims of how Norwegians can restrict their own spouses’ and children’s integration noted that all new arrivals in Norway now are expected to take part in state-offered classes regarding language and society The offer is not nearly as extensive as that offered refugees and there’s little follow-up regarding required attendance Smaadahl of the national crisis center system also cited what she called “serial importers” of foreign brides “Some of the women in our crisis centers have been abused by the same man,” she told Aftenposten “It takes courage to break out of any violent relationship,” Karin Andersen a Member of Parliament for the Socialist Left party (SV) the three-year rule is an extra burden.” Andersen was among those strongly critical to the proposal to extend it to five years and doesn’t believe the existing rule provides immigrant spouses with enough protection but the controversy around it has resurfaced in connection with this week’s murder case State officials stress that immigrants who can prove physical abuse can be exempted from the rule Of the 109 women who exercised that right last year and Tyldum worries that many others aren’t aware of the potential exemption Many of the women she has interviewed feel they lack control over their own lives and must choose between remaining in a destructive relationship or having to uproot once again and leave the country Police Chief Ellen Katrine Hætta in Kirkenes calls the murder case now underway “enormously tragic.” She doesn’t think the police could have done anything different “The police can’t get involved in all divorce cases,” Hætta told A-Magasinet NewsInEnglish.no is a free and independent Oslo-based website offering news from Norway.  It’s run on a voluntary basis by veteran journalists keen to share insight into Norwegian politics, economic affairs and culture, in English. Lisa GalliersPrincipal researcher & writerIn this article members' five favourite Ikea mattresses based on visits to our website reviews so far this year Could one of these be the perfect mattress for you But there's a good reason for this: most are very cheap to begin with all Ikea's mattresses – even the more luxurious ones – are typically cheaper than average when looking at all the mattresses we've tested Discover the top five most popular Ikea mattresses here - and read our Ikea mattress reviews to find out if they're as good a bargain as they seem Sign up for our Deals newsletterGrab genuine bargains using our expert tips in the monthly Deals newsletter Four of the five most popular Ikea mattresses on the Which website currently cost less than £220 for a double-size mattress the most expensive Ikea model we currently have online is £689 for a double Not finding what you're after? Take a look at our best mattresses We don't like: The cover isn't removable for washing Our most popular review in the past six months is for this budget-friendly mattress probably because it's one of the cheapest mattresses that Ikea offers with 2cm of polyurethane foam on top to help relieve pressure It's marketed as 'firm' and rating it 3.6 (on a scale where 1 is firmest and 10 softest) so it's best suited to those who sleep alone Will this budget mattress stand the test of time? Read our Ikea Vestmarka firm review to find out Buy a double mattress from Ikea for £139 (was £159) We like: It's sold rolled up so it's easy to get home We don't like: The cover isn't removable for washing our most popular Ikea double mattress review was for this low-priced pocket sprung mattress but the mattress is still a good choice if you're not a fan of full memory foam The 15.5cm pocket sprung core is topped with two layers of foam and wrapped in a polyester-topped cover It's rated 'cold' to lie on so it's perfect for anyone who gets hot at night or sweats a lot and our independent tests ranked it as a 4.2 (on a scale where 1 is firmest and 10 is softest) Will it provide your back with the best support? Read our Ikea Vesteröy mattress review for our full report Buy a double from Ikea for £199 (was £229) We don't like: It's fairly heavy The Ånneland is listed as a foam mattress; however the combination of pocket springs and foam layers means we consider it more of a hybrid It's one of Ikea's more expensive standard double mattresses but it's still cheaper than many similar mattresses from other brands The 11cm pocket sprung core is surrounded by numerous foam layers including a 3cm layer of memory foam closest to the surface you sleep on there's not an excessively high memory effect so you should be able to move about on it without too much trouble We tested the firm version and rated it 5 (on a scale where 1 is firmest and 10 softest) Will this mattress last without sagging? Find out with our full test review of the Ikea Ånneland firm 204.817.53 Buy a double from Ikea for £549 This mid-priced pocket sprung mattress has slipped down from its previously help place as the third most popular Ikea mattress review on our website in 2024 A similar construction to the Ikea Vesteröy this mattress is deep: it has a 17.5cm pocket sprung core topped with two layers of PU foam wrapped in a non-removable polyester-topped cover it ranked as 7.5 (on a scale where 1 is the firmest and 10 the softest) so you might find it softer than you'd expect Is this mattress the best of both worlds? We uncover all in our full lab-tested Ikea Valevåg firm mattress review Buy a double mattress from Ikea for £219 (was £279) We like: It's light and comes rolled and vacuum packed We don't like: It's not easy to move around on it Ikea's simple foam Åbygda might be a good bet because Ikea says you can use it immediately after unrolling it it will take 72 hours to fully regain its shape It has a simple construction of just two layers of foam – a 12cm foam base with a 3cm memory foam layer on top that’s designed to mould to the contours of your body Its soft-touch outer cover is made from a knitted fabric and is removable for washing which makes cleaning much easier – just remember to turn the cover inside out and zip it up Is this basic foam mattress the one for you? Go to our full Ikea Åbygda mattress review to see how we rated it in our lab Buy a double from Ikea for £199 (was £259) Need an extra layer of defence? Find the best mattress protector Ikea sells both foam and pocket sprung mattresses whether you buy them in-store or have them delivered If you bought a bed from Ikea some time ago, you may have bought a European double size. These have different dimensions from a UK standard double. You can find out more about Ikea mattress sizes in our guide to UK bed sizes We're used to seeing lengthy sleep trials offered with mattresses now but Ikea offers a 90-night comfort guarantee This means you can try it up for to 90 nights and you'll need to pay the difference; if the replacement mattress is cheaper Ikea will refund the difference on an Ikea Refund card Most Ikea mattresses come with a 10-year guarantee The guarantee covers defects in the material and workmanship for which Ikea will either repair or replace the mattress free of charge It does not cover wear and tear caused by long-term use Find out more about mattress sleep trials Ikea offers home delivery for your mattress Standard delivery is £25 for a maximum weight of 150kg and takes between three and 30 days Or you can pay £30 for express delivery in one to three days Both options include delivery to the room of your choice Ikea will also remove your old mattress and recycle it Alternatively, read how to dispose of a mattress to do it yourself. * Most-visited Ikea mattress reviews on which.co.uk since 1 January 2025. All mattresses in stock at the time of writing.  giving you on-the-go access to our reviews Varanger is one of Norway's most isolated places Here's a visual guide of what to expect on a Varanger road trip Norway is known for its magnificent fjords and imposing mountains but take a journey to the extreme north-east and things take on a very different picture Instead of fjords you’ll see birch woods and marshland Instead of dramatic mountains there are rugged cliffs and open ocean Varanger is a peninsula in Troms og Finnmark the vast county in the far north-east of Norway The geography up here is hard to comprehend at 2,069 square kilometres (799 square miles) the small town Vardø is farther east than Saint Petersburg There are small airports in both Vardø and Vadsø from where you can hire a car and start your trip, but both offer only Widerøe regional connections to Tromsø and Kirkenes Alternatively, you can fly directly from Oslo to Kirkenes but you'll need to add on approximately 78 miles to reach Varangerbotn and the beginning of the Varanger road trip The 18 National Scenic Routes provide a starting point for trip planning but not all are well-known or easy to access Yet one of the most awkward to access for international visitors is also one of the most rewarding “It is difficult to explain other than by saying that this is a place where you feel as if time stands a bit still,” is how the Norwegian Public Road Administration describes the route from Varangerbotn to Hamningberg Varanger isn't a place to rush through. It’s ideal for wild camping, hiking and birdwatching. The best birding stops are the islands of Ekkerøya and Hornøya and the Komagdalen bird trail in Varangerhalvøya National Park Highlights along the 160km route include the Sami cultural site Mortensnes and the abandoned fishing village Hamningberg The scenic route skirts the vast Varangerhalvøya National Park which covers much of the plateau at the centre of the peninsula A hike in the Nattfjelldalen valley is the best way to enjoy some of the park A 9km walk ends at a spectacular waterfall at the inner end of the valley the highest parts of Nattfjelldalen offer views all the way to Russia's Rybachy peninsula The landmark Nesseby church is just a short walk down to the fjord from Nesseby village the charming white church was left interacted after World War II the church has a baroque altarpiece dating from around 1720 When driving through this remote corner of Scandinavia it can be hard to believe that anyone lives here at all Yet Mortensnes is one of the most distinct cultural sites in all of Scandinavia It’s home to Sami sacrificial sites and graves that cover more than 10,000 years of continuous settlement. Upgraded cultural trails and improved information facilities are to be opened in 2021 as part of the National Scenic Routes project The site is maintained by the Varanger Sami museum, which has a main site 20km away in Varangerbotn. The museum is a must-see to fill in the details of the coastal history of the Sami people stretching back thousands of years and some of the Stone Age findings from the region Only 5,000 people live in Vadsø but it will feel like a metropolis as you arrive from the scenic route It's the ideal place to stock up on provisions for the rest of your trip take a walk along Kjærlighetsstien (Lovers’ Trail) From here you'll get a feel for the force of the ocean in this part of the world Norway's easternmost town, Vardø, is an island community with a dark past. Vardø today relies on a declining fishing industry and limited tourism, but it's also the strategically important site of the GLOBUS radar system Much of the town was rebuilt after the destruction of World War II violent winter storm sank many fishing boats and drowned 40 men from the remote island community of Vardø A group of local women were found guilty of witchcraft following confessions given under torture and burned to death. It was the first of three major witch trials in the 17th-century that resulted in the execution of 91 people Take a moment to remember the victims and the gruesome events at the Steilneset Memorial, a short walk from the center of Vardø. Spending time at the striking memorial and browsing the adjacent exhibition building is not an enjoyable experience, but it is an important one don't miss the fascinating wooden sculpture Drakkar-Laviathan part-dinosaur wooden creation stands alone on the otherwise deserted coastline Domen is known from Norwegian folklore as where witches met with Satan it's home to a shelter for hikers and birdwatchers There is a great view of the fiord and the open sea Several hundred thousand Arctic seabirds call this area their home Many of the houses in the abandoned fishing village Hamningberg were some of the few to escape the fiery destruction caused by retreating Nazi forces at the end of the Second World War Some 19th-century wooden buildings also contribute to the reminder of a lifestyle long gone It marks the literal end of the road in this part of Norway Driving the last few miles towards Hamningberg it really does feel as if you’re approaching the end of the earth The sign terming it the “end of Europe” certainly contributes to that Once you're done in Hamningberg you'll need to turn around and retrace your steps bear in mind this stretch of the road is closed during the winter The geography of the peninsula means that reaching the other main coastal settlements by car requires a long loop of the peninsula that can take four hours or more That's one reason why air travel and boat connections are so popular in this part of Norway You can read this article on Berlevåg to find out more and see photos from a different part of Varanger Originally from the UK, David now lives in Trondheim and was the original founder of Life in Norway back in 2011. He now works as a professional writer on all things Scandinavia If you’re interested in reading an historical fiction novel that takes places in this area and is based on the storm and witch trials I highly recommend The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave I really enjoyed the story of women’s resilience in the face of adversity and the setting was so intriguing and it’s actually how I found out about the Vardø witch trials before I wrote about them on here 🙂 Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Life in Norway is published by Words of Norway AS