Whaling Debate Reignites: Icelandic whaling is back after a two-year pause, with vessels leaving Reykjavík as animal welfare groups protest and the hunt’s future once again becomes a flashpoint for marine conservation. Shipping Pollution Rules: The North-East Atlantic is set to become a new MARPOL emission control area for NOx, SOx and particulate matter, with Iceland included, starting in 2027 (and tighter sulphur limits from 2028). Ocean Climate Watch: Scientists link the North Atlantic “Cold Blob” south of Greenland and Iceland to a weakening Atlantic current system that could reshape weather patterns far beyond the region. Deep-Sea Protection Push: Greenpeace staged the deepest protest banner yet between Iceland and Svalbard, warning that deep-sea mining could irreversibly damage fragile biodiversity hotspots. Marine Security Concern: Reports say Russian-linked vessels have been loitering over European subsea cables with no clear commercial reason, raising new questions about infrastructure safety. Local Heritage Under Pressure: A minister says most Icelandic turf houses have disappeared or fallen into ruin, highlighting a growing gap in preserving traditional building knowledge. Information Integrity: A Reykjavík conference warned that social media and AI are accelerating disinformation risks, complicating how people judge what to trust. Tourism & Transport: Qantas plans polar-route flights via Greenland and Iceland to London from 2027, while Iceland’s road travel still faces summer bottlenecks from single-lane bridges.