Eurotopics.net

Five years after the attack on the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, the trial against 14 alleged accomplices has begun. The Islamist attackers were shot dead by the police after they killed twelve members of the magazine's editorial staff, a police office and four hostages at a kosher supermarket. Journalists describe the difficulties of preserving the legacy of their murdered colleagues.

Riots broke out during protests against the Bulgarian government in Sofia on Wednesday. More than 120 demonstrators were arrested and at least 60 people were injured. Two weeks ago, Prime Minister Boyko Borisov had offered to have his government resign in reaction to the protests, but so far he has not made good. Is escalation imminent?

The president of the Czech Senate Miloš Vystrčil has drawn the ire of China with a visit to Taiwan. He is an "enemy of the 1.4 billion Chinese citizens" and will pay "a high price" for his behaviour, Beijing threatened. Commentators at home and abroad, however, applaud Vystrčil's initiative and hope others will follow suit.

Tim Davie took over as Director-General of the BBC on Wednesday. The British public service broadcaster is facing considerable pressure to reform, also because the Conservative government accuses it of leaning to the left and being biased towards the EU in its reporting. Commentators also call for more diversity among the editorial staff - for various reasons.

In Montenegro's parliamentary elections on the weekend President Milo Đukanović's ruling DPS party scored its worst result since 1991 but remains the strongest party in the country with around 35 percent of the vote. Opposition leader Zdravko Krivokapić of the pro-Serbian group For the Future of Montenegro (32.5 percent) is claiming victory. Commentators ask what repercussions a change of government could have - also in terms of geopolitics.