October, 22 2007 Meeting of the leaders of the legal services of the foreign departments of five Arctic nations: Russia, USA, Canada, Denmark, Norway (Norway, Oslo, October 15-16, 2007).

At the invitation of the Norwegian Government, representatives of the five coastal States of the Arctic Ocean - Canada, Denmark, Norway, the Russian Federation and the United States of America - met at the level of senior officials on 15 and 16 October 2007 in Oslo, Norway, to hold informal discussions.

The participants noted recent scientific data indicating that the Arctic Ocean stands at the threshold of significant changes, in particular the impact of melting ice on vulnerable ecosystems, livelihoods of local inhabitants, and potential exploitation of natural resources.

In this regard, they recalled the applicability of an extensive international legal framework to the Arctic Ocean, including notably the law of the sea. They discussed in particular application and national implementation of the law of the sea in relation to protection of the marine environment, freedom of navigation, marine scientific research and the establishment of the outer limits of their respective continental shelves. They discussed cooperative efforts on these and other topics. They also emphasized the commitment of their States to continue cooperation among themselves and with other interested States, including on scientific research.

October, 15 2007 Climate change reveals new information about Franz Josef Land

Travelling in the footsteps of Polar explorer Fridtjof Nansen this summer, Borge Ousland discovered a new island in the Russian Franz Josef Land.

The Norwegian Polar explorer Ousland during a mission this summer discovered that the Northbrook Island on the Franz Josef Land is actually two islands. Mr. Ousland and his travel mate Thomas Ulrich now encourage Russian authorities to name the new island "Hjalmar Johansen Island".

The Norwegian Polar hero Fridtjof Nansen visited the area in 1896. Then the islands were covered with thick ice, and believed to be only one island. In a dramatic expedition, Mr. Nansen and his companion Hjalmar Johansen then met with explorer Frederick Jackson on the nearby Cape Flora.

According to Mr. Ousland, the ice brim this summer stretched along the 82nd longitude, which is 500-600 meters further north than in the times of Fridtjof Nansen, Aftenposten reports.

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October, 11 2007 Ice-breaker on the way

Norway appears poised to get its first research vessel capable of sailing through ice in more than 90 years.

Here's what the new ice breaker might look like.

Polar research is arguably more important than ever, given all the concern about climate change. Norwegian researchers want to be at the forefront, but for decades they've had to hitchhike on board German, Swedish, Russian and American ice breakers.

Last week's national budget proposed by the center-left government coalition finally allocated some seed money to the design and construction of an ice-breaking research vessel. The amount was only about 1 percent of the expected NOK 500 million cost of such a vessel, but the remainder is to be allocated in subsequent budgets.