Miller is a grotesque figure granted power, a carnival barker of repression whose racism operates as projection: a deep, unresolved self-loathing displaced outward and weaponized.

White House adviser Stephen Miller seems torn from the darkest archive of the 1930s. His ideological fever, spittle-laced tirades, compulsive lying, and theatrical rage are not excesses but instruments: performative rituals through which cruelty is normalized and racism is taught.

Goebbels’s Ghost and Miller’s Dream of a “Unified Reich”

As the hypersonic penetrators broke through the cloud layers, each was enveloped in a luminous plasma sheath, producing brief but violent flashes that momentarily illuminated the surrounding atmosphere. These flashes were not explosions in the conventional sense, but visual signatures of extreme velocity, friction, and compression as the warheads tore through dense air at hypersonic speed.

PATRICK LAWRENCE: All Unquiet on the Ukrainian Front

The Europeans have run out of postures and gestures in the way of performative statecraft, and the Russians see no point in indulging them any further.

An American think-tank has some bad news for Europe. Just as the continent tries to wriggle free from an abusive relationship with Washington, it turns out they’ve never been more dependent on their tormentor.

“EU risks new energy dependence as U.S. could supply 80% of its LNG imports by 2030,” blared the latest report from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, pegging current dependence at 57%.

The EU is addicted to American economic punishment

The bloc’s dependence on US natural gas is reportedly on its way to 80%

DAVOS, SWITZERLAND [2018] - The heaviest snowfall to hit Davos in decades saw heaps of snow piling up high all around this scenic Swiss Alpine resort.

It made for breathtaking sights for the thousands of business and political leaders attending the World Economic Forum meeting over the past week. The experienced skiers among them would have relished the prospects of hitting the slopes packed with fresh powder.

In Davos, the global elite ponders on income inequality, lack of trust in leaders 

Yet, an excess of snowfall also raises the risk of a sudden avalanche, when snow can come crashing down without warning.

This chilling metaphor was heard several times in discussions here, signalling an underlying anxiety among participants about what lies ahead.

“How Western Media Sells War” is a deep-dive conversation on how conflict is packaged, branded, and sold to the public through news and entertainment. We look at:

How language, imagery, and repetition turn military campaigns into “humanitarian interventions” or “defensive actions”.

The role of think tanks, PR firms, and political elites in feeding ready‑made narratives into Western newsrooms.

Why dissenting voices are marginalised, smeared, or algorithmically buried when war agendas are on the table.

The truth about US foreign policy and why Europe appears doomed to repeat its disastrous lessons of the past.

All this and much more…

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Australia remains wealthy but structurally fragile – highly dependent on raw exports and poorly positioned for a more complex, decarbonising global economy. Economic complexity is a warning signal we can no longer ignore.

Imagine Australia finishing last on the Olympic medals table. Not mid-pack. Not a disappointing ninth. Last.

Stewart Sweeney

There would be outrage. Inquiries. Sackings. Funding overhauls. We would demand to know how a rich, capable country with world-class facilities and talent could fail so completely.

The Global Annual to Decadal Climate Update is issued annually by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). It provides a synthesis of the global annual to decadal predictions produced by the WMO designated Global Producing Centres and other contributing centres. The latest predictions show that:

• Global mean temperatures are likely to continue at or near record levels in the five-year period 2025-2029. The annually averaged global mean near-surface temperature for each year between 2025 and 2029 is predicted to be between 1.2°C and 1.9°C higher than the average over the years 1850-1900.

US President Donald Trump has said he has no plans to build a golf course or other real estate in Greenland, framing his push to acquire the Danish territory as a purely strategic national security move. 

In an interview with NewsNation on Tuesday, Trump dismissed the idea of development on the island, saying it’s “really cold, it’s got a lot of ice on it.” He also ruled out playing golf there: “you’d have to wear a lot of very heavy clothing. We’re not going to set any records with golf.”

Trump, however, doubled down on his claims that acquiring the autonomous Danish territory is a matter of US national security, citing supposed threats posed by Russian and Chinese ships in the Arctic.

Australian taxpayers are subsidising the Israel Defense Forces and illegal settlements in the West Bank via Australian charities. Stephanie Tran reports.

Australian taxpayers are subsidising donations to Israel’s military and to organisations operating illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian Territories through a network of registered charities with deductible gift recipient (DGR) status, an MWM investigation has found.

While speaking at the Davos summit on Tuesday, French president Emmanuel Macron drew attention for his stern rebuke of US leader Donald Trump's threat to tariff eight European countries opposed to his proposed takeover of Greenland. 

But another aspect of Macron's speech also made an impression: his choice of eyewear. 

Why is Emmanuel Macron wearing sunglasses indoors at Davos?

Tessa Wong.   BBC News

The French leader wore a striking pair of blue reflective aviator sunglasses indoors while addressing world leaders at the World Economic Forum.

Washington: Australia’s reputation among US conservatives went from “beloved to shot” during the COVID pandemic, MAGA stalwart Steve Bannon says, but the relationship has been resuscitated under Donald Trump and Anthony Albanese.

Bannon said Australia’s geostrategic importance in the Indo-Pacific was well understood within the Trump administration, which was recognised when the US president firmly recommitted to the AUKUS submarine agreement in October.

UAE, Belarus, Bahrain join Trump's Board of Peace alongside US rivals China, Russia
Norway was invited to serve on the board as well, but refused the offer. The Norwegian Foreign Ministry did not provide an immediate explanation.

The United Arab Emirates and Belarus accepted the invitation to join US President Donald Trump's "Board of Peace" on Tuesday. 

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko signed the agreement to join on Tuesday afternoon, stating that he looked forward to becoming a "founding member" of the organization. 

Demand for survival supplies and long-lasting food products has soared in Greenland’s capital city of Nuuk, CNN reported on Monday, citing local retailers. The surge comes amid growing concerns over possible US interference on the Arctic island.

In recent weeks, US President Donald Trump has intensified his push to bring Greenland under Washington’s control, which he has pursued since his first term. He argues the move is vital for US national security to counter Chinese and Russian influence in the Arctic – a claim rejected by both Beijing and Moscow.

Tensions escalated further last week after Trump vowed to impose an additional 10% tariff in February on US trading partners in Europe that refuse to back his push to acquire the Arctic island. He also said the tariffs would rise to 25% in June and remain in place until a “complete and total purchase.”

Global ice is melting fast, with major sea level rise and extreme heat locked in unless emissions fall sharply. The window to act is closing.

Having just achieved the hottest three years in recorded history, humans are well on the way to returning the planet to the ice-free state it experienced when dinosaurs last ruled.

Julian Cribb