Eurotopics.net

For the first time since 2019, the freezing temperatures mean that motor vehicles could travel across the ice from Estonia's mainland to its islands. However, the authorities are refusing to set up ice roads on the grounds that they are too expensive, too risky, and that no money has been allocated to such roads in the budget. Locals are now driving across the ice at their own risk in some places.

After the US deployed the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and other warships to the Middle East last week, it remains unclear whether there will be an attack on Iran. According to the Iranian state news agency Irna the country's president, Masoud Pezeshkian, has called for a diplomatic solution to the conflict. Media reports suggest that talks on a new nuclear deal are taking place behind the scenes. European commentators warn of the dangers of a military strike.

The US Department of Justice has released further files in the case of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein: according to US Attorney General Todd Blanche the more than three million pages of documents, thousands of videos and well over 100,000 photos contain "disturbing material", but do not provide grounds for new investigations. Commentators call for clarification at various levels.

Storm Kristin has caused fatalities and severe damage to buildings and infrastructure in Portugal, and more storms are forecast. Disaster management has become the dominant issue in the presidential election campaign, with the run-off election between the socialist candidate Antonio José Seguro and the right-wing populist André Ventura due to take place on Sunday.