Eurotopics.net

After the advance of Assad's troops and their allies into eastern Aleppo, the rebels have given up the fight for the city. Moscow has agreed to a ceasefire but the evacuation of the civilian population is not yet underway. The international community has failed the city's residents, commentators criticise, and see a new world order emerging.

US president elect Trump has nominated Rex Tillerson, CEO of oil giant Exxon Mobil, for the post of secretary of state. The businessman has excellent contacts with Russian President Putin and opposes sanctions against Moscow. Commentators disagree as to whether his appointment is good news or bad.

Russia deliberately attempted to influence the US elections in Donald Trump's favour, according to a CIA report. Russian hackers accessed email accounts of the Democratic Party leadership and passed on the documents to Wikileaks, the report alleges. Trump has described the allegations as "ridiculous". Some commentators demand a thorough investigation. Others suspect foul play on the part of the CIA.

Brussels has opened two new chapters in the EU accession talks with Serbia. Croatia, however, blocked the opening of the chapter on education and culture, as it already did on other issues last spring. This has provoked angry reactions and harsh criticism from the Serbian side. Is Zagreb's obstructive stance justified?

The EU states have unanimously condemned the attacks in Istanbul, but they are at odds on the matter of Turkey's EU accession talks. At a meeting in Brussels the foreign ministers resolved not to open a new chapter of the negotiations for the time being. Austria, however, defied the other states, calling for formal steps to freeze the talks completely and refusing to go along with the resolution. What approach should the EU adopt vis-à-vis Ankara?