Spain

Greece ranks last in the European Union, along with Spain, in the European Skills Index compiled by the European Center for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP), as while the country may boast a high rate of basic education, it also has a low level of professional skills.

Turkish woman fencer Nisanur Erbil won a silver medal in the FIE Junior Segovia World Cup 2020 on Jan. 18.

France's Anne Poupinet beat Erbil 15-12 in the final to win the gold medal in the tournament in Spain.

Erbil had defeated the U.S.' Chloe Fox-Gitomer 15-14 to compete in the final.

Turkey,

The participation of the Hellenic Navy in the carrier group that will escort the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle on a part of its mission in the Eastern Mediterranean is seen as yet another indication of Athens' desire to strengthen its ties with Paris.
The government also sees the move as French support for Greece in light of the Turkish-Libyan maritime border accord.

In an interview with Italian newspaper La Repubblica on Saturday, European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas insisted that "Europe cannot allow itself to fail again with migration."

He added that there is an imperative need for a new agreement that "will cover all aspects of migration policies."

Sibiu, the only city in Romania with three Michelin stars, the best possible quote offered by this guide, will be promoted in 2020 at tourism fairs in five European countries: Austria, Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, according to the County Tourism Association (AJTS).

Turkey's Fenerbahçe Beko suffered a frustrating home loss to Barcelona on Jan. 17 that ended the Istanbul club's three-game winning streak in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.

The Spanish team toppled Fenerbahçe 80-74.

Greek playmaker guard Kostas Sloukas led Fenerbahçe Beko with a "double-double" at the Ülker Sports and Event Hall.

A Spanish court has sentenced a former top banker to 18 months in jail for trying to smuggle a Picasso painting deemed a national treasure out of the country on a sailing yacht.    

The court also fined ex-Bankinter head Jaime Botin 52.4 million euros ($58.4 million), according to the Madrid court ruling issued on January 14 which was made public on Jan. 16.    

80 competitors from Bulgaria, Pakistan, Egypt, Romania, Spain and Greece began their squash year with an international tournament at the Fireball Sports Hall. After 305 games of tough battle, Georgi Yanev, Alexander Alexandrov and Anelia Dukova won gold medals in the respective categories.

The acquisition of FPS by Italian group doValue will serve as a springboard for the latter's expansion in the wider Southeastern Europe region according to its CEO Andrea Mangoni.

In an interview with Kathimerini, Mangoni says that the Italian group's aim is to become the leading servicer of nonperforming exposures in Greece ahead of the emergence of the secondary NPE market.

Firefighters have found the body of a second victim following a massive explosion and fire at a chemical factory in northeastern Spain, they said on Jan. 15.

The explosion in Tarragona a day earlier left another eight injured, rescue officials said, and the fire continued to burn on Jan. 15.