Arctic

The leaders of the United States, Denmark and Greenland have signed a new security agreement covering Greenland, according to a breaking announcement. The deal would touch on the Arctic island's defence arrangements, an issue of renewed attention given Washington's strategic interest in Greenland and Denmark's sovereignty over the autonomous territory.

The US military is expanding its presence in Greenland to monitor Chinese activity in the Arctic, turning the Danish autonomous territory into a strategic lookout. The move reflects growing concern in Washington over Beijing's ambitions in the polar north, a region where melting ice is opening new shipping routes and access to resources, and where China has sought a foothold in recent years.

Donald Trump has signed a deal with Greenland giving the United States broad military authority on the island. The agreement was reported by CBS News and is being discussed as a significant step in Washington's defense posture in the Arctic. Details on the scope of the authority and Denmark's response remain limited so far.

The European Union has ruled out new oil and gas drilling in the Arctic, reaffirming its position against fossil fuel expansion in the polar region. The move aligns with the bloc's climate commitments and its long-standing push to protect the environmentally sensitive Arctic from extractive industries. Commenters are weighing what the decision means for energy security, climate policy and the EU's role in Arctic affairs.

Peter Barrett, described as a legend of Antarctic science both in New Zealand and internationally, died over the weekend. Tributes describe him as someone who, in keeping with his character, left colleagues with a list of tasks and challenges to carry on. His contributions to Antarctic research and climate science are being widely remembered.

New research highlighted by Newswise examines how radar technology could transform naval operations in the polar regions, as geopolitical competition over the Arctic intensifies. With melting sea ice opening new shipping routes and access to resources, nations are paying growing attention to surveillance and detection capabilities that can function in extreme polar conditions, where ice, cold and remoteness challenge conventional maritime systems.

Korean shipbuilders are pushing to develop technology that allows ships to navigate safely through Arctic ice, as melting sea ice opens new shipping routes and access to energy resources. The race positions South Korea's major yards against international rivals to supply ice-class vessels and equipment for polar shipping, a market expected to grow as Arctic traffic increases.

A robotic submarine deployed beneath Antarctic ice mapped unusual structures on the seafloor before disappearing without a trace. The lost vehicle reportedly recorded strange formations under the ice shelf before contact was cut off. The disappearance has drawn attention because the sub was gathering rare data from one of the least explored environments on Earth, raising questions about what it found and why contact was lost.