Sledding past Washington

An Inuit hunter riding his dog sled on the soft sea ice as he looks for seal outside Ittoqqortoormiit on the frozen Scoresbysund Fjord. Greenland’s dogsled federation said that the new US special envoy to the Arctic island had been disinvited to its annual race, as Washington repeatedly threatens to take over the autonomous Danish territory. — AFP

GREENLAND’s biggest dogsled race is a cultural mainstay on the Arctic island, but US envoys keep finding themselves disinvited, frustrating attempts by President Donald Trump’s team to wield soft power in the Danish autonomous territory.

The annual Avannaata Qimussersua race is dear to Greenlanders as the most prestigious event of its kind, pitting around 30 teams against each other to decide the territory’s top dog sledders.