Eurotopics.net

The 25th Winter Olympics kick off in Italy today. For the first time in Olympic history, two cities, Milan and the winter resort of Cortina d'Ampezzo, will jointly host the games. Before all the attention turns to games and medals, the media discuss the event from an economic - and environmental - perspective.

The New Start nuclear weapons treaty, which was signed between the US and Russia in 2010 to limit the number of strategic nuclear weapons, expired on Thursday. The agreement foresaw a maximum limit of 1,550 warheads and 800 delivery vehicles for both sides. Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed a one-year extension of the treaty last September, but US President Donald Trump didn't take up the offer.

Today marks the expiry of the New Start nuclear weapons treaty which was concluded between the US and Russia in 2010 to limit the number of strategic nuclear weapons in their possession. At the time, both sides agreed on a maximum limit of 1,550 warheads and 800 delivery vehicles. In September, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to extend the treaty for another year, but US President Trump didn't accept the proposal.

The Labour government and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer are under pressure. Following the release of further Epstein files, Peter Mandelson is suspected of having passed on confidential government information to Jeffrey Epstein, who was already a convicted sex offender, during his time as Secretary of State for Business and Trade. Starmer is now facing accusations of having knowledge of Mandelson's ties to Epstein when he appointed Mandelson as US ambassador in 2024.

Italian MEP and former general Roberto Vannacci has announced he is withdrawing from the right-wing populist Lega and launching a new far-right party called Futuro Nazionale. Vannacci was deputy leader of Lega, which is led by Matteo Salvini and forms part of Italy's coalition government together with Giorgia Meloni's Fratelli d'Italia and Forza Italia. What is his goal?