Arctic

The leaders of the United States, Denmark and Greenland have signed a new security agreement concerning Greenland, according to a breaking report circulating widely online. The deal would touch on the Arctic island's defence arrangements, an area of heightened attention given Greenland's strategic location and ongoing debate over its political future and US interest in the 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.

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.

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.

Canada's Foreign Minister Anita Anand is scheduled to speak at the United Nations General Assembly at around 5 p.m. eastern time. Her address comes during the annual high-level week in New York, where world leaders and foreign ministers deliver set-piece speeches. Expect her remarks to touch on Canada's priorities, with observers flagging the Arctic, Ukraine, Gaza and the wider Middle East as likely themes.

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.

Expedition travel company Lindblad has made an acquisition that strengthens its position in Antarctica travel and broadens its luxury offerings. The move signals continued consolidation in the expedition cruise sector, where demand for polar and high-end small-ship voyages has been growing. Details of the acquired company and the deal's value were not provided.

Scientists are examining the inner workings of Antarctic fish cells to understand how these animals survive in water barely above freezing. The research aims to reveal the biological mechanisms, likely involving specialized proteins or cellular adaptations, that keep their bodies functioning in conditions that would freeze most fish. The findings could inform broader work on cold tolerance in biology.