AGORA

During the excavations in the 7,000-year-old Assos ruins in Behramkale village, located in the Ayvacık district of the northwestern province of Çanakkale, a 2,000-year-old whistle has been unearthed around the Ayazma Church. Made of terracotta, the whistle was a child's toy in daily life, and they were put in children's graves as a burial gift believe the archaeologists.

Tusk himself ups the ante in the introduction to the book, published (in Polish) at the end of last year by media giant Agora.

"When I told Herman Van Rompuy, the former prime minister of Belgium and my predecessor, that I am sending my notes from the last years to a publisher, he scratched his head: 'Why are you doing that? It's very risky, you will regret it.'"

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center in southern Athens will be ringing in the New Year in tremendous style with a spectacular fireworks show and dancing fountains at the Canal. British DJ, radio show host, and founder/managing director of Acid Jazz Records will also be spinning the decks in a big outdoor party with an intro/outro set by the trumpet-jamming Johny Matto at the Agora.