Atle Staalesen

Northern winds to power more Swedish towns

Another 52 windmills are soon ready to be built in the deep forests of Norrbotten, the northern Swedish region.
February 17, 2016

Niinistö, Medvedev discussed Arctic migrant route

«Previously, it was not possible for people without visas to make it to the Russian-Finnish border», Finnish President Sauli Niinistö told Russian Premier Dmitry Medvedev.
February 17, 2016

This could soon be the world’s biggest Arctic port

More than three million tons of goods were handled at Sabetta in 2015. When in full swing, the port will have capacity for 30 million.
February 16, 2016

Minister hints tax on cross-border shopping

Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov says goods brought across the border by private persons and for private consumption could become subject to taxation.
February 16, 2016

No access to Russian waters for marine researchers

For the first time, we are rejected entry to Russian waters without getting an explanation, researchers from the Norwegian Marine Research Institute say.
February 15, 2016

New low for Northern Sea Route

Only 40,000 tons of cargo was transported transit through the Russian Arctic route in 2015. And 75 percent of that was delivered by a Chinese cargo carrier.
February 15, 2016

The Spektakel town

Artists, musicians, journalists and government representatives gather in the border town of Kirkenes for the Barents Spektakel festival 2016. See what is going on.
February 12, 2016

Strong increase in Kola nickel production

The nickel plants in the Kola Peninsula now process more ore than the ones in Norilsk.
February 12, 2016

Murmansk invites tourists to Novaya Zemlya

A planned Arctic cruise route includes visits to the highly militarized and sealed-off Novaya Zemlya, Deputy Governor Aleksey Tyukavin confirms to foreign business representatives.
February 11, 2016

Appeasement on Barents coast

We disagree about Ukraine, but agree about the need for good cross-border neighborly relations, Foreign Minister Børge Brende says as he visits Kirkenes, the Norwegian border town.
February 10, 2016

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Atle is journalist and Publisher of the Independent Barents Observer.

In 2002, he founded the Barents Observer. He was editor until 2009 and later worked as journalist and project coordinator for several European cross-border cooperation projects. In late 2015, following a conflict over editorial rights, he re-established the Barents Observer as an independent and non-profit stock company along with the rest of the newspaper crew.  

Atle has a degree in Russian studies from the University of Oslo and studied journalism at the Moscow State University.

atle@thebarentsobserver.com
@atlestaalesen