Agents of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency have shot and killed a person in Minneapolis for the second time within a month. According to the US Department of Homeland Security, the officers were acting in self-defence. However, video footage broadcast by US media shows no evidence that the victim, intensive care nurse Alex Pretti, had threatened them with a weapon. Europe's media fear a dangerous spiral of violence.
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, a speech by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney attracted particular attention when he declared the end of the old rules-based order and the "beginning of a harsh reality". Carney explained that middle powers must join forces to act together against threats from the major powers. Commentators also see the need to act.
Massive Russian air strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure have left hundreds of thousands of people without electricity or heating in freezing temperatures. According to the government, 1.2 million households are currently without power. What is Russia trying to achieve with its unremitting attacks on energy facilities?
Germany and Italy plan to work more closely together. During German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's visit to Rome on Friday, he and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni signed agreements on closer cooperation in the areas of security, migration and defence, and announced joint initiatives in economic policy. Commentators speculate on where this could lead.
Following the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte, details have emerged regarding the potential terms of a new Greenland agreement. According to media reports, it would include additional military bases under US sovereignty, a bigger security policy role for European states and the planned US missile defence system 'Golden Dome'.
The founding document for the Board of Peace initiated by US President Donald Trump has been signed on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. According to the charter, the Board's mission is to resolve conflicts in parallel to the United Nations. Hungary and Bulgaria are the only EU member states to have joined the controversial organisation so far. The media weigh in.
The upper house of the British Parliament has voted to introduce a social media ban for children and teens under the age of 16, following Australia's example. The vote was initiated by Conservative member of the House of Lords John Nash, who stressed that "the future of children must come first", and will increase the pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to enact a social media ban. The British press takes stock.
In north-eastern Syria, the Kurds' sphere of influence is shrinking dramatically with the advance of the transitional government's forces. A four-day ceasefire is currently in place. The US Special Envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack, has said that the Kurdish SDF's role as an anti-IS force has largely expired, since the government in Damascus is now ready to assume security responsibilities. The media discusses the consequences.
The European Parliament voted by a narrow majority to refer the trade agreement signed over the weekend between the EU and the South American Mercosur countries to the European Court of Justice. The court is to examine whether the agreement is in line with EU treaties, which will delay its ratification for some time. European media outlets discuss the consequences and significance of the decision.
Donald Trump has invited numerous countries to join his "Board of Peace", which is not only to deal with the situation in Gaza but would also serve as a permanent body for conflict resolution. The potential participation of leaders such as Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenka is particularly controversial. Europe's commentators are unsparing in their criticism.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has used a special constitutional provision to push through the 2026 budget without a vote in the National Assembly. He justified the move stressing that the situation was deadlocked, but "France needs a budget". The left and the far-right Rassemblement National promptly tabled a motion of no confidence.
The World Economic Forum (WEF), which brings together leading figures from business, politics and science, is taking place this week at the Swiss resort of Davos under the motto "Spirit of dialogue". All eyes are now on US President Donald Trump, who before boarding his plane to head to the meeting today said he believed a solution would be found in the dispute over Greenland that would make Nato and the US 'very happy'.