Arctic Resilience?

Epidurals during childbirth are common in large parts of Norway, but their use is significantly lower in Northern Norway. Are Arctic women simply tougher? (Norwegian only)

The Arctic Council has released a brand new episode of the podcast This Way Up , and this time they’re talking trash. 

Also, read about how several people have reported illness-like symptoms after working at the construction site of a steel plant in Northern Sweden. 

And we present a new report that estimates billion-dollar losses from national satellite service outages in Norway. 

Russia is benefiting from the gas crisis after the war in Iran. In fact, the EU remained the dominant buyer of Russia’s Yamal LNG in the first quarter of 2026. 

Commentator Arne O. Holm has focused his attention on the somewhat absurd political situation we find ourselves in. 

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«Something is not right when it feels like a relief when the news here in Norway is, quite literally, littered with drunk politicians”, Holm writes, adding that some perhaps seriously believe we need a reminder of politicians' human traits. 

At the time of writing, six Northern Norwegian parliamentarians are on their way to Alaska, where they will clearly state what they think about Trump's threats to Greenland, Nato and Iran. (Norwegian only) 

Lastly, a new report shows that few fishers choose to combine commercial fishing with tourist fishing. (Norwegian only) 

Follow us into the weekend, as Holm is participating in a high-profile marking of the 200th anniversary of the last Norwegian-Russian border being set. We will also follow the anniversary editorially. 

You can look forward to good interviews from the Northern Norwegian industry and NATO, and next week, we will cover the preparedness exercise Øvelse Nord in Bodø, Northern Norway. 

If you have anything to share, send it to hinn@nord.no.

Spring greetings from Editor-in-Chief Trine Jonassen