Eurotopics.net

The authorities in southern Denmark have made a case of unfair competition public: the Danish rescue service Falck allegedly edged its Dutch competitor Bios out of the market with a smear campaign led by two PR agencies. Bios had won a contract that Falck also bid for in 2014 but was forced to file for bankruptcy after the campaign. Danish media are shocked.

Eight EU states have recognised Venezuela's opposition leader Guaidó as interim president after head of state Nicolás Maduro failed to meet a deadline for convoking new elections. Speaking about the situation on Sunday US President Donald Trump did not exclude the possibility of military intervention. For some commentators pressure from abroad is the only solution to the crisis. Others argue that foreign intervention must be avoided at all cost.

In its newly published index for 2018 NGO Transparency International reports a global increase in corruption in the economy, politics and administration. A number of European countries including Hungary and Turkey also slipped down in the rankings. But there are also positive examples, commentators point out.

The withdrawal by the US and Russia from the INF Treaty banning the use of land-based mid-range nuclear missiles has stoked fears of a new arms race. Both sides accuse each other of violating the terms of the treaty. Commentators examine who will be hardest hit by the move.

The Finn Matti Nykänen, one of the most successful ski jumpers of all times, has died aged 55. The list of his successes in the 1980s is long: Olympic gold, World Championship titles, World Cup overall titles and Four Hills Tournament victories. But after the end of his sports career the athlete's life was overshadowed by alcoholism, violence and spells in jail. The obituaries reflect the varying emotions Nykänen provoked.