Politics

Russia and India are pushing ahead with the Arctic freight corridor

Russia and India intend to significantly step up their cooperation on the Northern Sea Route. A joint pilot shipment through the Russian Arctic could take place as early as 2027.

More Chinese research vessels off Alaska

Heiner Kubny

China is continuing to expand its scientific presence in the Arctic. Four Chinese research vessels were already operating in the waters off Alaska in 2026.

Iceland’s whaling industry is on the brink of closure

Rosamaria Kubny

Iceland is on the cusp of a historic turning point in whaling. The government intends to permanently ban commercial whaling and will table a corresponding bill in parliament in February 2027.

Information superhighway beneath the ice: Oden loses its way

Heiner Kubny

In the middle of the Arctic Ocean, the Swedish research icebreaker Oden has surveyed the seabed for an unusual infrastructure project.

What Makes a Good Life in the Arctic?

Yana Kirichenko

How do we know whether people are living well? When measuring life in the Arctic, researchers argue that standard measures may miss some of the things that matter most.

China and Russia are planning a new container fleet for the Arctic

Heiner Kubny

China and Russia are pressing ahead with their plans for regular container shipping via the Northern Sea Route.

Professor Molchanov: Legal dispute over Russian ship in Svalbard

Marcel Schütz

The Norwegian authorities detained the Russian Professor Molchanov in Barentsburg on 2 September under a court order. The measure stems from a compensation claim by Ukrainian energy group Naftogaz against Russia.

Suspicious manoeuvres over Svalbard’s undersea cables

Heiner Kubny

Several Russian fishing vessels have repeatedly crossed the routes of the undersea cables between the Norwegian mainland and Svalbard in recent days.

Churchill could become a year-round Arctic port

Heiner Kubny

The Canadian port of Churchill on Hudson Bay could in future be called at by merchant ships all year round.

Fibre-optic cable to connect Antarctica to the world

Heiner Kubny

Antarctica could, for the first time, be connected directly to the global data network via an undersea fibre-optic cable.

Krill fishery reaches catch limit months ahead of schedule

Heiner Kubny

The krill fishery in Antarctica has once again been brought to a premature close in 2026. The 620,000-tonne threshold had already been reached in the South Atlantic fishing grounds by 12 August.

India plans its first polar and ocean museum in Goa

Heiner Kubny

India aims to raise public awareness of its polar and marine research in future.

Indigenous Women’s Day Amid Greenland’s Contraception Case Legacy

Yana Kirichenko

September 5, 2026 marks the first International Day of Indigenous Women, while a decades-old case concerning their treatment in Greenland continues to be addressed.

Book review: The NULL Archive

Heiner Kubny

A mystery from the ice dating back to 1943. A mysterious death in Berlin in 2026. And a vulnerability in global IT security that could lead the world to the brink of disaster.

Bird Flu Threat: Australia Withdraws Team from Macquarie Island

Rosamaria Kubny

Australia is taking an extraordinary precautionary measure on Macquarie Island: Due to the threat of the spread of the highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza, the research station’s staff is to be temporarily evacuated from the sub-Antarctic island.

New Zealand begins construction of the new Scott Base

Heiner Kubny

New Zealand has signed the construction contract for the comprehensive redevelopment of its Antarctic research station, Scott Base, thereby getting one of the country’s largest infrastructure projects back on track.

New Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker delayed

Heiner Kubny

Russia’s expansion of its nuclear-powered icebreaker fleet is being delayed. The ‘Chukotka’, the next icebreaker in the Project 22220 class, is not due to enter service at the end of 2026 as planned, but not until 2027.

Norway continues to rely on oil and gas from the Arctic

Heiner Kubny

Norway intends to continue developing its oil and gas reserves in the Barents Sea – even though the European Union is critical of new fossil fuel projects in the Arctic.

China launches Arctic liner service to Europe

Heiner Kubny

Shipping along the Russian Arctic coast could reach new heights this summer.

Australia modernises Davis Station

Heiner Kubny

Australia has taken a significant step towards securing the future of its Antarctic research. The necessary environmental permit has been granted for the comprehensive modernisation of the Davis research station.

Russia’s new polar flagship is taking shape

Heiner Kubny

Construction of the new Russian research and expedition vessel “Ivan Frolov” is progressing according to plan.

How much tourism can Antarctica sustain?

Heiner Kubny

Tourism in Antarctica has been growing steadily for years, and with it the debate over its impact on one of the Earth’s most sensitive natural landscapes.

Hobart is in the grip of Antarctic fever

Heiner Kubny

From 20 to 23 August 2026, Hobart will be celebrating its unique connection to Antarctica – with science, history and activities for the whole family.

China launches its 16th Arctic expedition

Heiner Kubny

China has officially launched its 16th Arctic expedition. It is the country’s first research mission to the Arctic under the current 15th Five-Year Plan.

Russia is expanding its influence in the Arctic

Heiner Kubny

With the construction of the new nuclear-powered icebreaker ‘Rossiya’, Russia is continuing its ambitious Arctic strategy.

Tourism: Murmansk Reconnects with Svalbard

Heiner Kubny

After an interruption of almost three decades, direct passenger voyages between the Russian port city of Murmansk and the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard have resumed.

New Polar Research Vessel for India

Heiner Kubny

On April 8, 2026, a major milestone was reached in the construction of a new Indian ocean research vessel at the Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) shipyard in Kolkata.

Increasing Microplastic Pollution in the Arctic

Heiner Kubny

While the world powers compete for control of the Arctic, a new and unexpected contender has quietly emerged: microplastics.

Bulgarian Antarctic Research

Heiner Kubny

Bulgaria began its Antarctic activities as early as 1967–1969, when Bulgarian meteorologists participated in the 13th Soviet Antarctic Expedition.

The Madrid Protocol: A Long-Term Spatial Ordering Mechanism

Pamela da Costa

The Madrid Protocol functions as a long-term spatial ordering device.

Krill fishing and bycatch in the Southern Ocean

Léa Zinsli

Krill fishing in the Southern Ocean is tightly managed, but new research shows that bycatch and local fishing pressure remain important concerns.

How Modern Radar Systems Secure the Arctic

Heiner Kubny

The Arctic is increasingly moving into the focus of global politics. The reasons for this are vast natural resource deposits, new shipping routes emerging as ice melts, and its strategic location between major powers.

Brussels Imposes Sanctions on the Port of Murmansk

Heiner Kubny

On 23 April 2026, the European Union adopted new measures against Russia as part of its 20th package of sanctions. The focus is on the northern Russian port of Murmansk.

Mine 7 Closure Ends Norwegian Coal Mining in Longyearbyen

Léa Zinsli

The recent closure of Mine 7 marks the end of Norwegian coal mining in Longyearbyen and reflects a broader shift toward new economic activities on Svalbard.

50 Years of Georg Forster Station – A Milestone in Polar Research

Heiner Kubny

On April 21, 1976, the future Georg Forster Station of the former GDR was officially inaugurated in the Schirmacher Oasis in Antarctica.

The Quiet Power of Nature in the Geopolitical Game

Pamela da Costa

Nature does not concern itself with geopolitics or science… until either determines our collective fate.

Russia’s LNG Projects Under Sanctions

Heiner Kubny

The Arctic is gaining increasing international importance due to its vast natural resources, especially natural gas.

The Falkland Islands return to the political spotlight

Marcel Schütz

The Falkland Islands are once again the focus of international political reporting. The trigger is statements from the circle around Donald Trump, which have been reported in various media outlets in connection with foreign policy issues of the United States.

Svalbard introduces mandatory certification for Arctic guides

Léa Zinsli

From 2027, guides outside Svalbard’s settlements must hold official approval under a new certification system.

The Odd Bird on the Fringe of History

Christian Hug

Nobu Shirase wants to go to the South Pole! That was the joke of the year in 1909. The Japanese were rolling with laughter, and the press openly mocked him.

The Svalbard Treaty: A Brief Overview

Léa Zinsli

The Svalbard Treaty grants Norway sovereignty while ensuring equal access and peaceful use of the Arctic archipelago for all signatory nations.

Russia’s Icebreaker Program under Pressure

Heiner Kubny

Russia, once a global leader in icebreaker construction, is facing a potential strategic setback.

Putin’s Prestige Submarine Back in Service

Heiner Kubny

The return of the strategic nuclear submarine “Karelia” to active service marks a new phase in the expansion of Russia’s nuclear naval forces in the Arctic.

Camp Century – City Under the Ice

Heiner Kubny

Camp Century looks like something out of a spy movie: a city beneath the ice, hidden in the Arctic.

Rising Arctic Shipping Activity

Léa Zinsli

New data from the Arctic Council shows a significant rise in vessel traffic, with nearly double the distance sailed by vessels since 2013.

Cape Town Agreement Boosts Arctic Safety

Léa Zinsli

The Cape Town Agreement, entering into force in 2027, sets new safety standards for fishing vessels reducing risks and pollution in Arctic waters.

Climate Change Reduces Radiation Risk of the “Komsomolets”

Heiner Kubny

A recent study examines how climate change affects the potential spread of radioactive substances from the sunken Soviet nuclear submarine ‘Komsomolets’.

Fernando E. Franca – First Cuban in Antarctica

Heiner Kubny

Fernando E. Franca is considered an important figure in the history of international polar research.

Waste management in Antarctica (Part 2)

Pamela da Costa

Can waste management practices in Antarctica provide a model of sustainability for extreme environments?

U.S. Coast Guard Orders Five Icebreakers

Heiner Kubny

The American shipbuilder Davie Defense has received a contract from the United States Coast Guard (USCG) for the construction of five Arctic Security Cutters (ASCs).

Russia issues missile warnings north of Norway

Léa Zinsli

Russia issued two missile warnings in the Barents Sea north of Norway in recent weeks, including one during NATO’s Cold Response Arctic exercise.

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Guest article

How can you tell if a polar bear is pregnant?

Guest Author

It is not for lack of trying. But to this day scientists know of no reliable way to tell if a polar bear is pregnant.

Politics

Russia and India are pushing ahead with the Arctic freight corridor

More Chinese research vessels off Alaska

Iceland’s whaling industry is on the brink of closure

Information superhighway beneath the ice: Oden loses its way

What Makes a Good Life in the Arctic?

China and Russia are planning a new container fleet for the Arctic

Professor Molchanov: Legal dispute over Russian ship in Svalbard

Suspicious manoeuvres over Svalbard’s undersea cables

Churchill could become a year-round Arctic port

Fibre-optic cable to connect Antarctica to the world

Krill fishery reaches catch limit months ahead of schedule

India plans its first polar and ocean museum in Goa

Indigenous Women’s Day Amid Greenland’s Contraception Case Legacy

Book review: The NULL Archive

Bird Flu Threat: Australia Withdraws Team from Macquarie Island

New Zealand begins construction of the new Scott Base

New Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker delayed

Norway continues to rely on oil and gas from the Arctic

China launches Arctic liner service to Europe

Australia modernises Davis Station

Russia’s new polar flagship is taking shape

How much tourism can Antarctica sustain?

Hobart is in the grip of Antarctic fever

China launches its 16th Arctic expedition

Russia is expanding its influence in the Arctic

Tourism: Murmansk Reconnects with Svalbard

New Polar Research Vessel for India

Increasing Microplastic Pollution in the Arctic

Bulgarian Antarctic Research

The Madrid Protocol: A Long-Term Spatial Ordering Mechanism

Krill fishing and bycatch in the Southern Ocean

How Modern Radar Systems Secure the Arctic

Brussels Imposes Sanctions on the Port of Murmansk

Mine 7 Closure Ends Norwegian Coal Mining in Longyearbyen

50 Years of Georg Forster Station – A Milestone in Polar Research

The Quiet Power of Nature in the Geopolitical Game

Russia’s LNG Projects Under Sanctions

The Falkland Islands return to the political spotlight

Svalbard introduces mandatory certification for Arctic guides

The Odd Bird on the Fringe of History

The Svalbard Treaty: A Brief Overview

Russia’s Icebreaker Program under Pressure

Putin’s Prestige Submarine Back in Service

Camp Century – City Under the Ice

Rising Arctic Shipping Activity

Cape Town Agreement Boosts Arctic Safety

Climate Change Reduces Radiation Risk of the “Komsomolets”

Fernando E. Franca – First Cuban in Antarctica

Waste management in Antarctica (Part 2)

U.S. Coast Guard Orders Five Icebreakers

Russia issues missile warnings north of Norway

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Guest article

How can you tell if a polar bear is pregnant?

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