GameStar received word from Akella that they're "no longer working cooperatively with Strategy First on Jagged Alliance 3" (transl.) Publisher Strategy First still holds the rights for Jagged Alliance 3, but Akella won't be developing the game. Whether or not another developer will take over is unclear.

F3 Games' Andrew Kazakov has been interviewed at RPG Vault about Jagged Alliance 3:

Jonric: What circumstances and reasons contributed to the selection of a Russian-based studio to develop this title?

Andrew Kazakov: When choosing a team to develop a project of this type and scale, it was obvious that we needed Russian developers, the same people that created games with similarities to Jagged Alliance 2, both in genre and the time setting. I'm referring to releases like Silent Storm, Night Watch, Brigade E5 and others. Such projects have not been created in western countries for a long time, which can make development more difficult.

We haven't covered Jagged Alliance 3 for a while but with two new articles out today, it seems a good time to check in on the title.  First, StrategyCore has an interview that goes all the way back to E3:

SC: Tell me why JA3 will be the best game in the Jagged Alliance series?

AK: First of all, it’s now in full 3D. It's an evolutionary step from the previous series. Since we are working with Strategy First and the original designer of the series, Richard Therrien, this helps us a lot to make steady improvements. Also, the Silent Storm engine allows good destructibility of everything so we can demolish buildings and blow up cars which were not possible previously. This also helps in tactical situations where you can destroy a wall to get into a building from different points. Also, it’s more dynamic, more battle and combat oriented. There is less emphasis on micromanagement than the previous series. The player doesn't have to train troops or hold mines. What the player mostly does with the mercenaries is fight. The player commands a special squad, a special team, not a small army.

...and GameSpy has a very short preview that demonstrates the confusing heritage of this development, since they still list MiSTland South as the developer instead of Akella and didn't realise Strategy First is the NA publisher.  Here is an excerpt:

In Jagged Alliance 3 you'll have up to six mercs in your squad at a time. We got a chance to play an early level with Shadow, Scope and Malice. The game sports a new 3D engine which is sharp and a definite step up from the previous games which were never really all that pretty to begin with. JA3 won't win any awards for looks, but it is easily the best-looking game of the franchise. The interface is definitely improved, and we found commanding our squad to be easier than ever. The large strategic country map is back, only this time rather than having the land divided up in a grid the land will be broken up into more natural-looking territories. Also returning is the Action Point system from the previous games, so JA vets will feel right at home. 

Jagged Alliance fansite The Bear Pit has a summary of a Jagged Alliance 3 interview with new developers F3 garnered from a Russian print mag, titled Game World Navigator.  It seems this attempt at JA3 will be built around a modified version of the Silent Storm engine -- head here for more.

Thanks, Maximous!

After canceling their arrangements with MiSTland South, Strategy First has turned to Russian game house Akella and developer F3 Games  for the development of Jagged Alliance 3 according to this Russian press release.  A rough translation can be found on the RPG Codex forums.  Akella is already working with Strategy First, of course, on Disciples 3 (via developer .dat).