Norway allocates over $190M for production of ammunition, including for Ukraine
The Norwegian government has allocated NOK 2 billion (over USD 190 million) to increase the production capacity in the Norwegian defence industry, mainly for artillery ammunition, including for the needs of Ukraine. “The war in Ukraine leads to a spur in demand for ammunition. The government will increase the financialContinue Reading
Norway boosts oil, gas drilling, including in Arctic
Norway on Tuesday awarded stakes in 62 offshore oil and gas exploration licences to 24 energy companies, including state-controlled Equinor , boosting the amount of acreage offered as the country seeks to pump for decades to come. The annual award was up from 47 licences a year ago when 25Continue Reading
Unions step up pressure on government over proposed labour market reforms
Two of Finland’s largest trade union federations, SAK and STTK, have announced plans to stage a demonstration against the government’s proposed reform of labour market laws. The protest is scheduled to take place in Helsinki’s Senate Square on Thursday 1 February. The demonstration is a continuation of the campaign byContinue Reading
UK Commando Force Heads to Arctic Norway for NATO Exercise
Elements of the UK Commando Force, including the Royal Marines, Army Commandos, and the Commando Helicopter Force, are gearing up for a mission to northern Norway. This deployment, involving over a thousand Commandos, is a clear demonstration of the UK’s commitment to maintaining security in the High North region. TheseContinue Reading
Zelenskyy coming to Tallinn – and again asking for money
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has started his Baltic tour during which he will also visit Tallinn on Thursday. President Zelenskyy tweeted that he will arrive in Vilnius Wednesday before moving on to Tallinn and Riga, adding that Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are reliable friends and principled partners for Ukraine.Continue Reading
Medication significantly cheaper in Sweden than Finland, new study finds
On average, over-the-counter medicines are 37 percent cheaper in Sweden, and prescription medicines are about 11 percent less expensive, according to a new study by consulting firm Copenhagen Economics. The study compared medicines by product category and also took into account the two Nordic countries’ different VAT levels. The largestContinue Reading
A really simple guide to Finland’s 2024 presidential election
Finland gets a new president in 2024, after 12 years with Sauli Niinistö as head of state. He can’t run again, so there are a number of contenders to replace him. This article provides some essential information about the race. What’s at stake? The job has changed a lot sinceContinue Reading
Canada pledges to work with U.S. over competing claims to Arctic sea floor
The federal government is pledging to work with its American counterparts after the U.S. claimed parts of the Arctic sea floor that Canada also wants. Grantly Franklin, spokesman for Global Affairs Canada, said in an email that Canada expects to follow the process set out in a United Nations treatyContinue Reading
Arctic LNG 2 to start operations despite US sanctions
The project is central to Russia’s plan to increase liquified natural gas (LNG) production. Novatek, Russia’s LNG producer, has begun operations at its Arctic LNG 2 project despite US sanctions. According to Bloomberg, Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Alexander Novak, said in an interview with a state-run TV channel at theContinue Reading
Donations to Ukraine aid organizations five times lower at end of 2023 than start
The amount of donations received by major Ukrainian aid organizations in Estonia at the end of 2023 was five times lower than at the beginning of the year. Individuals, companies and organizations in Estonia donated over €3 million in total to Ukrainian aid organizations last year. Donations to major UkrainianContinue Reading