World - Daily Politics

Donald Trump has stepped up his long-running interest in Greenland, appointing a special envoy and signalling that tariffs could be used against countries that resist his plans. The moves have heightened tensions between the United States and Denmark, which retains sovereignty over the autonomous Arctic territory.

The appointment of a US envoy to focus on Greenland has been framed by the White House as part of a broader strategic review of American interests in the Arctic. Greenland’s location and natural resources have long been seen as geopolitically significant, particularly as competition in the region increases due to climate change and renewed ...

Claims about the scale of casualties during recent protests in Iran are being increasingly questioned, amid concerns about unverified figures, activist-sourced data and the way such claims are amplified by Western media and social platforms.

Commentary from the political programme Breaking Points has highlighted how some reports have cited death tolls ranging from 12,000 to 20,000 people without independent confirmation or transparent methodology. The programme criticised the reliance on unnamed sources and activist groups, arguing that such numbers, if accurate, would represent one of the largest protest crackdowns in modern history and therefore require a far higher evidentiary standard.

The discussion also ...

Friedrich Merz has described Russia as a European country and said he hopes relations between Moscow and Europe can eventually be rebuilt, signalling a cautious shift in tone from Berlin amid ongoing tensions.

Speaking about Europe’s long-term security and stability, Merz said geography and history meant Russia would remain part of the European political landscape. While acknowledging the deep rupture in relations following the war in Ukraine, he suggested that balanced ties between the European Union and Russia should remain a long-term objective, conditional on peace and respect for international security arrangements.

Merz stressed that his remarks did not imply an immediate ...

Russia has reacted sharply to renewed comments by Donald Trump about Greenland, with senior figures in Moscow warning that such moves could carry catastrophic global consequences. The remarks have fuelled dramatic rhetoric from Russian officials, some of whom warned of risks ranging from World War Three to what they described as an “end of the world” scenario.

The warnings followed reports that Trump had again raised the idea of asserting US control or influence over Greenland, a territory governed by Denmark but strategically significant because of its location in the Arctic. Russia said the comments reflected a dangerous disregard for international ...

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado met with Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, DC, on January 15, in a meeting that drew international attention for both its diplomatic symbolism and political implications. Machado, the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, said she presented her Nobel medal to Trump as a gesture recognising what she describes as his support for Venezuela’s struggle for freedom.

The closed-door meeting marked the first personal encounter between Machado and Trump, and was followed by discussions with a bipartisan group of US senators on Capitol Hill. Machado told reporters she offered the medal “as a ...

Denmark has confirmed the deployment of additional military forces to Greenland, joined by support from NATO allies, as attention intensifies on security in the strategically vital Arctic region. The move comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions and renewed debate over alliance obligations linked to Greenland’s defence.

Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, occupies a crucial position between North America and Europe. Its location has long given it strategic importance for missile defence, surveillance, and control of emerging Arctic shipping routes. As climate change accelerates ice melt, the region is becoming more accessible, increasing competition among major powers.

Danish officials have ...

Iran has issued a warning that it would retaliate against US interests if Washington carries out military strikes, as reports emerge of American personnel being withdrawn from bases across the Middle East. The warning underscores rising tensions following speculation that the US administration may be weighing military action against Tehran.

Iranian officials said any attack on the country would be met with a response, framing the warning as a deterrence message rather than a declaration of intent to escalate. The statements followed reports that the United States has begun withdrawing some personnel from regional bases, including sites in the Gulf, as ...

According to reporting discussed by Novara Media, a decision by Donald Trump to launch military action against Iran could come within the next 24 hours. The assessment is based on information attributed to Western officials and follows indications of heightened military precautions across the Gulf region.

A key signal cited is the withdrawal of US personnel from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest American military facility in the Middle East. The base has previously been targeted by Iranian missiles following earlier US actions, and moving personnel is widely interpreted as a force-protection measure ahead of a potential strike. Reports ...

Israeli officials have privately advised the United States to delay any immediate military measures against Iran, expressing concern that external intervention could undermine the impact of ongoing protests rather than accelerate political change.

According to officials familiar with the discussions, Israel conveyed support for efforts aimed at weakening Iran’s leadership but cautioned that direct military action at this stage could rally public support around the authorities. Instead, Israeli representatives suggested alternative measures such as tighter economic sanctions, efforts to improve internet access inside Iran, cyber operations, or narrowly targeted actions against specific individuals.

Regional allies in the Persian Gulf have also raised ...

Donald Trump’s renewed remarks about Greenland have prompted swift resistance in Washington, with US senators introducing legislation aimed at preventing any unilateral attempt to acquire the territory.

Lawmakers backing the bill say it is designed to reinforce constitutional limits on presidential authority and ensure that Congress retains oversight over major foreign policy decisions. Supporters argue that territorial acquisition without legislative approval would breach long-standing legal norms and risk undermining the system of checks and balances.

Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, holds strategic importance due to its location in the Arctic, where competition over security, resources and shipping routes ...