Russian Ministry of Regional Development ranks Russian cities in terms of their quality of living.

Murmansk does not seem to have enough urban developments to enter the top 50. Arkhangelsk does not either.

May 15, Russian sanitary watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor and Norwegian food safety agency Mattilsynet to hold discussions in Moscow.

Russian agency says the existing memo on cooperation needs to be reconsidered. Hence the protocol on chilled fish supplies from Norway will have to be updated 'in view of new realities'.

One of Murmansk urban icons, Klavdia Elanskaya coastal ship finds a new mooring place due to ongoing reconstruction of port infrastructure.

The famous vessel which is practically the only available link between Murmansk and the settlement of Ostrovnoy will now be stationed at the fishing port.

Updated with photos / This is a well-established tradition for Murmansk citizens and foreigners residing in or just visiting the city.

Friday, May 17, the Norwegians will march along the central Murmansk streets to celebrate the Constitution Day. A Murmansk brass band will lead this international parade.

Tuesday, Vladimir Putin signs into law a bill on establishing a new holiday in Russia. Polar Explorer Day is to be celebrated on May 21 from now on.

The holiday refers to the first-ever North Pole–1 drifting research station that was installed some 20 km away from the North Pole on 21 May 1937.

As of January-April 2013, Russian ports generally showed positive results. So did the ports of Murmansk and Arkhangelsk.

The sea ports of Russia increased their cargo turnover by 6% comparing Jan-Apr 2013 and Jan-Apr 2012.

St-Petersburg-based Marine Complex Systems agrees to construct an industrial park in the Arkhangelsk region, report local officials.

In return, the Arkhangelsk governor Igor Orlov promises the investor will get certain preferences during a start-up period.

Sergey Skomorokhov, the former chief officer at the sanitary and veterinary department, will now take care of agriculture and fishery in Murmansk.

As the leader of a local communist party turns down the job offer of the Murmansk governor, another candidate is found shortly.

Russia may declare amnesty for business prisoners later in the year.

According to the leader of Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs – Aleksander Shokhin – businessmen who committed economic crimes may be set free in late 2013.