Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s First Minister, emphasised her country’s historic and ongoing connections with the High North in the first keynote speech at the 4th Arctic Circle Assembly in Reykjavík on 7th October 2016. Scotland is determined to deepen and strengthen these ties, according to Sturgeon.
The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urges governments to ensure that Indigenous Peoples' rights and contributions remain central when ways to fight climate changes are discussed.
While neighboring Arctic regions experience massive population decline, the Yamal Nenets has been through a five-fold demographic increase in less than half a century. «It is unprecedented», says regional Governor Dmitry Kobylkin.
The United Russia wins 39,3 percent of the votes in regional parliament elections in Murmansk, a significant increase compared with results from 2011. The margins are smaller in neighboring Karelia.
«This year’s election campaign has proceeded quietly without offenses and unnecessary tensions», a prominent representative of the United Russia party in Murmansk says.
Independent election watchdog Golos continues to update its Map of Violations ahead of the September 18th State Duma elections. Arkhangelsk is among the regions with the biggest number of registered offenses.
Patriarch Kirill makes his fourth visit to the Russian Arctic in less than three months. This week, the turn had come to Pevek, the east Arctic settlement.