Eurotopics.net

Students at Istanbul's Boğaziçi University have protested at the government's appointment of their new rector, Melih Bulu. This was the first time since 1980 that the decision was not taken within the university. Some commentators voice doubts about the new rector's suitability. Others question the motives of the demonstrators.

US President Donald Trump is causing a new furor in his last days in office. According to media reports he pressured the secretary of state of Georgia to change the results of the presidential election in his state retroactively in a phone call. Trump has also talked of election fraud in the Georgia runoff elections for two Senate seats. Commentators analyse his behavior.

In many European countries schools have remained partially or completely closed after the Christmas holidays. Decisions about when and to what extent classroom teaching will restart are generally being made contingent on current infection rates. The result is uncertainty and ongoing controversy - to the chagrin of parents, educators and a considerable number of commentators.

Criticism of the sluggish progress of the coronavirus vaccination campaign is growing in the countries of the EU. Biontech boss Uğur Şahin, for example, has said the EU was too slow in ordering vaccines. On a per capita basis, the EU states are currently lagging behind countries such as Israel, the US and Britain. International commentators examine the problem from different perspectives.