Powerful winter winds have driven a large amount of thick ice from Arctic seas into warmer waters, putting at risk the habitat of animals including polar bears and seals.
The strong winds that swirled clockwise for much of the winter pushed eight per cent of the Arctic’s “perennial ice” into the Beaufort Sea, north of mainland Canada, where two thirds of ice melts during the summer, researchers at University College London said.
Perennial ice is thicker, is more resistant to melting, has survived for at least a summer and helps keep global temperatures down by reflecting sunlight.
The new study, published in the journal Nature Communications Earth and Environment, said about half of the Arctic's perennial ice has disappeared since 1984 and was at a record low level for this time of year.
“In mid-February we saw that a strong weather system was literally spinning the Arctic sea ice around,” said UCL’s Robbie Mallett, who led the study.
“When we looked closer we saw that the Arctic’s older ice was drifting out of the ‘survival zone’ – the shrinking area where ice can still survive the summer melt season.”
The development is being blamed on a weakening of the polar vortex, a band of cold winds in the Arctic’s stratosphere. In turn, cold weather pushed south to cause the lowest UK temperatures since 1995 and freezing weather in Texas, while high temperatures and powerful clockwise winds in the Arctic drove ice south.
“Since perennial ice tends to be thicker ice that is more resistant to melting during summer, the loss ice removes the ocean’s reflective ice cover, allowing it to absorb more heat and light, which in turn melts more ice and warms the planet,” said co-author Julienne Stroeve, of UCL and University of Colorado Boulder.
Mr Mallett said that “last winter things started badly, and then they got worse”.
“We saw a record late start to the winter growth season, from which the sea ice never really recovered. We now have a record-low and precariously positioned, perennial ice cover in the Arctic’s hottest months. If this ice melts before September, then it’s gone."
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Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
WRESTLING HIGHLIGHTS
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
