Russia stakes Arctic claim

TWO deep-diving Russian mini-submarines descended more than 4km under North Pole ice to stake a flag on the ocean floor yesterday, as part of a quest to bolster Russian claims to much of the Arctic’s oil-and-mineral wealth.

Despite the dangers of diving under 1.5m-thick polar ice, both mini-submarines returned safely.

The Mir-1 resurfaced after spending eight hours and 40 minutes under water and the Mir-2 mini-sub returned an hour later.