News archive of February 2017

Ankara's Platform A and Armony Art Gallery are simultaneously hosting recent works by a significant figure in contemporary Turkish art, painter Orhan Taylan. 

Opening an exhibition every year in Ankara is a tradition for Taylan, who has been working with Armoni Art Gallery since 1988 and Platform Gallery, its sister company. 

Bosnian Serb lawmakers voted to impede state-level decision-making in response to attempts by Bosniak presidency member Bakir Izetbegovic to launch an appeal against the 2007 judgment that cleared Serbia of direct responsibility for genocide.

Thousands of members and supporters of the former ruling party - the conservative Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organisation - Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity, VMRO DPMNE - took to the streets of the Macedonian capital on Monday evening to protest against the formation of a new coalition government they claim puts ethnic Macedonian interests at risk.

AEK survived the strong challenge of PAOK in Athens to all but confirm the third place in the regular season of the Basket League, while leaders Olympiakos and Panathinaikos scored wins on the road.

Preserving its perfect home record after 10 matches at the Olympic Sports Hall, AEK saw off PAOK with a 77-71 score on Saturday with 17 points from Roko Leni Ukic.

Revelers celebrate 'Ash Monday' by participating in a colorful 'flour war,' a traditional festivity marking the end of the carnival season and the start of the 40-day Lent period until the Orthodox Easter, in the port town of Galaxidi, on Monday. [Alkis Konstantinidis/Reuters]

Greek police said arsonists targeted the French cultural institute in Athens on Monday causing minor damage but no injuries.

A car parked outside the building was torched, damaging a second vehicle nearby. The unidentified attackers also smashed windows at the institute.

The government of Bangladesh recognized on Monday independence of the self-proclaimed republic of Kosovo, the country's Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam said.

The decision was adopted at a regular session of the cabinet earlier in the day in accordance with the proposal of Bangladeshi Foreign Ministry.

Hungary has started to build a second fence along the southern border with Serbia, Reuters reported on Monday, citing Hungarian officials.

This move will "likely to exacerbate criticism from some of the country's European Union partners," the agency said.

Bailout inspectors will resume talks with the Greek government on Tuesday to try to complete a review of the country's compliance with agreed reforms that has dragged on for months, the Finance Ministry said on Monday.

Serbia on Monday opened chapters 20 and 26 as part of its EU membership negotiations.

Chapter 20 (enterprise and industrial policy) and 26 (education and culture) were opened at an EU-Serbia Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) in Brussels.

Chapter 26 was immediately closed at the same meeting as there are no common EU benchmarks for its closure.