Pope Leo escalates his criticism of the Iran war, triggering a sharp and public clash with US President Donald Trump. In a powerful letter, the Pope warned that democracies risk sliding into “majoritarian tyranny” if power is not guided by moral values — a message that has intensified the ongoing feud. The situation escalated further when Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stepped in, calling Trump’s remarks “unacceptable” and defending the independence of religious leaders.

Violence broke out near the Olympic Village in Milan after a massive protest against the Winter Games escalated into clashes with police. Earlier in the day, more than 10,000 demonstrators marched peacefully through the city, criticizing the environmental impact of new venues and the social cost of hosting the Olympics. But after nightfall, tensions rose — stones and flares were thrown, and authorities responded with tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd.