The mayor of Greenland’s capital has urged media professionals and content creators to act responsibly after a German comedian attempted to hoist the US flag in Nuuk, drawing outrage from local residents.

Bavarian comedian Maxi Schafroth, 41, tried to raise the Stars and Stripes near the city’s cultural centre on Thursday. Passers-by confronted him after he claimed to be a US official. Witnesses reported that locals reacted angrily, and Schafroth left the scene amid disapproving looks. Local authorities subsequently fined him, according to reports.

Avaaraq Olsen, mayor of Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq, the district that includes Nuuk, described the stunt as “immensely harmful.” She said the incident was particularly upsetting for children and families, who have already been anxious over US President Donald Trump’s repeated threats to seize Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory.

“Raising a flag at our capital cultural centre, the flag of a military superpower that for weeks has been implying military force against our country, is not a joke,” Olsen said in a statement. “When you amplify those fears for content, clicks, or laughs, you are not being bold or creative. You are adding to the distress of an already vulnerable population. So, pause before you film. Think before you stage something ‘funny.’ Consider whether your next question or stunt will inform the world or simply make a child cry or a family feel less safe in their own country.”

Schafroth is known in Germany for his work on the satirical programme “Extra Drei,” broadcast by the regional NDR channel, which attracts over one million viewers. NDR expressed regret over the incident in statements to Germany’s Der Spiegel and the Ritzau news agency.

The stunt comes amid heightened international attention on Greenland following Trump’s long-standing territorial interest in the Arctic territory. Trump described owning Greenland as essential to US national security, claiming without evidence that Russia or China would otherwise seize control. His statements sparked a serious diplomatic crisis, considered the most severe in NATO’s history since the alliance was established in 1949.

Although the US president later backtracked on threats to use force, discussions between Washington, Copenhagen, and Nuuk are ongoing. Greenland’s government has been working to manage the stress and anxiety caused by the situation and to reassure its population that their safety remains a priority.

Local authorities stressed that Greenlanders, particularly children, remain worried over the uncertainty surrounding the territory’s international status. Olsen said the flag stunt, though intended as a humorous act, highlighted the need for content creators to consider the real-world impact of their actions on communities already facing heightened tension.

The incident underscores the lingering sensitivity in Greenland following months of international attention, and the city’s leadership has called for respect and caution in public displays that could inflame fear or insecurity among residents.

Moscow is experiencing the heaviest snowfall in more than two centuries, with snow piling up across the city and causing major disruptions for residents and commuters. Moscow State University meteorologists reported on Thursday that January has been unusually cold and snowy, with nearly 92 millimeters of precipitation recorded by the Moscow State University Meteorological Observatory by January 29 — the highest total in 203 years.

Snow piles reached as high as 60 centimetres in some parts of the Russian capital on Thursday, leaving streets, cars, and public areas heavily covered. Experts note that because snow contains a large amount of air, settled snow depths far exceed the measured precipitation levels. The record snowfall is attributed to deep cyclones and sharp atmospheric fronts passing over the Moscow region, according to the observatory.

Images circulating online show residents struggling through central Moscow, with snowdrifts blocking cars and roads. Commuter trains in the metropolitan area were delayed, while traffic jams stretched across major thoroughfares as drivers attempted to navigate streets blanketed in snow.

“January was a cold and unusually snowy month in Moscow,” the observatory said on social media. “By 29 January, the Moscow State University Meteorological Observatory had recorded almost 92 millimeters of precipitation, already the highest value in the last 203 years.”

Residents voiced frustration at the extreme weather. “There was much more snow when I was a kid, but now we practically don’t have any snow at all,” said Pavel, a 35-year-old bartender living in central Moscow. “There used to be much more.”

The snowfall follows a severe storm earlier this month in Russia’s far eastern Kamchatka region, which prompted authorities to declare an emergency after a massive snowstorm partially paralysed the city. Images from Kamchatka showed snowdrifts reaching the second storey of buildings and residents digging their way through roads as cars were buried on either side.

Moscow authorities have been working to clear streets and maintain public transport, but heavy snowfall has hampered efforts, highlighting the scale of the challenge for a city of around 13 million people. Meteorologists warn that residents should continue to exercise caution, particularly on roads and public transport routes, as winter weather conditions persist.

The extreme snowfall in Moscow underscores the impact of strong cyclonic systems across the region this month, affecting daily life, traffic, and local infrastructure. Authorities continue to monitor weather conditions as city workers manage the accumulation of snow and attempt to minimise disruptions for residents.

Lorry drivers from four Western Balkan countries blocked more than 20 European Union border crossings on Monday, protesting strict enforcement of Schengen travel rules that limit non-EU nationals to 90 days within any 180-day period. Officials estimate the blockade is causing daily export losses of around €100 million.

The protest halted freight operations in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and North Macedonia, affecting key trade routes connecting the EU with Turkey and the Middle East. Montenegro’s Adriatic port of Bar was also disrupted.

Vesko Šljivančanin, director of the Association of International Hauliers of Montenegro, told Euronews that drivers are “fighting for our companies to be competitive within the region, fighting for our employees, for our families, for our very existence.”

Marko Čadež, president of Serbia’s Chamber of Commerce, said the direct damage to exports from blocked crossings amounts to roughly €100 million per day. He added that production companies face additional penalties for undelivered goods, ranging from €10,000 to €50,000 daily. “About 10,000 companies export from Serbia to the EU alone,” Čadež said, warning that total losses could grow rapidly.

The protest responds to tighter enforcement of Schengen rules under the Entry/Exit System (EES), which went into partial effect in October 2025. The electronic system replaces passport stamps with biometric data, including fingerprints and facial images, and tracks stays in real time. Drivers say the measures treat professional hauliers the same as attempted migrants, effectively restricting their ability to work.

Mirko Ivanović, representing a Bosnian transport company, said: “We have reached the point where our drivers—and we ourselves—have effectively been deprived of the right to work, because our drivers are being arrested in the European Union.” Last year, over 100 drivers were deported for exceeding the 90-day limit, with another 100 deportations announced last week. Nine drivers were arrested in Germany alone in the past seven days.

At Gevgelija, the busiest crossing between Greece and North Macedonia, around 100 lorries bearing Macedonian flags blocked the cargo terminal. Drivers said they would allow the passage of medicine, live animals, ammunition, and explosives but would otherwise maintain the blockade. Protesters said the action would last at least seven days, with shifts organized to maintain continuous coverage.

Serbia’s Chamber of Commerce proposed solutions including a special visa for professional drivers valid across the Schengen Area, extending allowed stay periods, or exempting drivers from the EES system until a permanent resolution is found. Serbian Prime Minister Đuro Macut warned that failure to address the issue could “fully paralyse” transportation companies and harm Balkan economies.

European Commission spokesperson Marcus Lamert said the bloc is aware of concerns and closely monitoring the situation. “The EES does not introduce new rules on the length of short-term stays in the Schengen area, but allows better enforcement of the rules,” he said, noting that flexibility exists for certain professions requiring frequent cross-border travel.

The protests highlight tensions between the EU’s regulatory framework and the livelihoods of professional drivers in candidate countries seeking EU membership.