Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who has been taken prisoner by the US, has stated in a New York court that he remains the legitimate president of his country and that he was "kidnapped". The 63-year-old rejected accusations that he abused his office and promoted drug trafficking. European commentators focus on the question of whether the US operation was legitimate.

A devastating fire in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana on New Year's Eve has claimed 40 lives and left 119 people injured. The blaze apparently broke out when sparks from table fireworks ignited the ceiling panelling in a bar. Commentators express shock at the extent of the tragedy.

Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed Kyrylo Budanov, the former head of the military intelligence service HUR, as the new Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine. He succeeds Andriy Yermak, who was forced to step down from this key position in Ukrainian politics in December amid a major corruption scandal. What prompted the appointment of the popular lieutenant general?

Bulgaria became the 21st country in Europe to introduce the euro as the new year began. Although the highly contentious move comes in the midst of a political crisis following the recent resignation of the government, Europe's press voices optimism.

As the year 2025 draws to an end, commentators in Europe's press take stock and conclude that just twelve months into his second presidency Donald Trump has not only upended the situation in the US, but in international politics, too. However, some take hope from the fact that he is not as firmly in the saddle as he pretends to be.

For Europe, the threat from the East has grown and support from the West has become more fragile in 2025. Commentators discuss how the continent should position itself to face the future.

In its war against Ukraine, Russia gained control of further territories in 2025 but failed to make significant advances on the front line. Ukraine is increasingly countering Moscow's massive air strikes with its own long-range missiles and the negotiations initiated by the US have intensified as the year 2025 draws to an end. What prospects are emerging after almost four years of war?

AI is penetrating more and more areas of our lives and the economy – along with robot and drone technologies that were just science fiction until recently. The media takes a look at what is being created and what is being destroyed.

'We have to have it.' With these words, US President Donald Trump has once again laid claim to Greenland, citing national security as the rationale for the renewed push. He has appointed Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as his special envoy for Greenland. The prime ministers of Greenland and Denmark responded with a statement saying, among other things, that they expect the US to show 'respect for our common territorial integrity'.

Comparing prices and hunting for bargains are dominating the preparations for the festive season, while the magic of Christmas seems to be fading. The focus on special offers and wish lists is distracting us from the things that really matter. Commentators across Europe share their thoughts on the subject.

The Kyiv city council has decided to dismantle 15 monuments and other memorials associated with the history and symbolism of the Russian monarchy and the Soviet Union. These include the monument to the author Mikhail Bulgakov, the memorial stone commemorating the 100th anniversary of Lenin's birth, and the memorial plaque to Pyotr Tchaikovsky.

The US military has seized another oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. This vessel is believed to be the Panama-flagged Centuries. The Venezuelan regime of Nicolás Maduro described the seizure as a "serious act of international piracy". Washington said that the US would continue to crack down on the illegal trade in sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran.