By Eric Van Rythoven, Instructor in Political Science, Carleton University
Looking at headlines around the world, it seemed like United States President Donald Trump’s annexation of Greenland was imminent. Buoyed by the success of his military operation to oust Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Trump ratcheted up his rhetoric and threatened tariffs on any nation that opposed him.
Adding insult to injury,…
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By Shannon Brincat, Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations, University of the Sunshine Coast
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s address to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, created global headlines for his criticism of US President Donald Trump and his frank admission the rules-based international order is undergoing a “rupture, not a transition”.
Carney also called on middle powers like Canada (and while he did not say so specifically, Australia) to band together to fight for their own interests:
[…]the…
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By Emma Shortis, Adjunct Senior Fellow, School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, RMIT University
In a rambling speech, the US president appears to be cooling on his bid to buy Greenland, but still had plenty of fire for a lot of people.
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By Craig Stevens, Professor in Ocean Physics, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau; National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA)
Christina Hulbe, Professor and Dean of the School of Surveying (glaciology specialisation), University of Otago
Yingpu Xiahou, PhD Candidate in Physical Oceanography, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
A four-year record from the heart of the Ross Ice Shelf shows how subtle changes could shape future sea level rise, ocean ecosystems – and even our weather.
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By Stewart Prest, Lecturer, Political Science, University of British Columbia
Mark Carney clearly hopes a new global world order may emerge that’s not only more resilient to diverse and unpredictable threats, but is more honest and just.
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By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra
The Liberal-National Coalition is over for the second time in less than 12 months, this time over hate crimes legislation.
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By Zena Assaad, Senior Lecturer, School of Engineering, Australian National University
The United States is set to become “the world’s undisputed [artificial intelligence-enabled] fighting force”.
At least that’s the view of the country’s Department of War, which earlier this month released a new strategy to accelerate the deployment of AI for military purposes.
The “AI Acceleration Strategy” sets an unambiguous objective of setting up the US military as the frontrunner in AI warfighting.…
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By Human Rights Watch
Click to expand Image US President Donald Trump speaks at the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly, at the UN headquarters in New York City, on September 23, 2025. © 2025 Laura Brett/Sipa USA via AP Photo Last weekend the United Nations celebrated the 80th anniversary of the General Assembly’s first meeting. The commemoration comes as the world organization established to prevent a repeat of the crimes against humanity and genocide that took place during World War II is under unprecedented attack.The United States played a leading role in establishing the UN. Now, US President Donald…
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By Human Rights Watch
Click to expand Image The grandchildren of Patrice Emery Lumumba during a session of the Brussels council chamber, in the case concerning the 1961 murder of Lumumba the first elected Prime Minister of the DRC Congo, January 20, 2026. © 2026 by Benoit Doppagne/Belga/Sipa USA via AP Photo On January 20, a Belgian court held a closed-door hearing to determine whether to pursue a criminal case against the last living former Belgian official for his alleged involvement in the 1961 assassination of the first democratically elected prime minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo,…
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Wednesday, January 21, 2026
From Davos, the President of the UN General Assembly on Wednesday warned that the world has entered a “make‑or‑break” moment for multilateralism, saying the rules‑based order can survive only if states speak the truth and act when it’s hard. She called for a cross‑regional alliance to push back against growing lawlessness, disinformation, and power‑based politics.
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