Politics by country

The Social Democratic Party (PSD) says that it is the duty of the prime minister-designate to prove that he has the support of Parliament for the formation of the Government, and Ludovic Orban is trying in vain to blame the Social Democratic parliamentarians. "It is the duty of the prime minister-designate to prove that he has Parliament's support for the formation of the Government.

Amid an ongoing dispute over a Constitutional Court ruling that has angered Bosnian Serb politicians, Milorad Dodik, the Serbian member of the state presidency, has stopped Bosnia from signing up to a status agreement with the European Union border agency, Frontex.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Feb. 20 said that Turkey is "keeping a close eye" on developments in Germany, after attacks in two bars in Hanau, Germany that killed nine people, including five Turkish nationals.

"Turkey, and especially the Turkish Embassy in Berlin, is carefully monitoring the process," Erdoğan said.

"I am pleased to announce that our highly respected Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell will become the Acting Director of National Intelligence," the US President Donald Trump tweeted.
The US President thanked Acting Director of Intelligence Joe Maguire, who has been in office since August.

Austria's foreign minister said on Feb. 19 that he will travel to Tehran this weekend amid efforts by European countries to keep alive Iran's nuclear agreement with world powers.

Turkey will provide 90 days visa exemption to six Schengen countries, beginning from March 2, on travel for touristic purposes, said a written statement by the Foreign Ministry spokesman on Feb. 20.

Turkey and Uzbekistan aim to increase the bilateral trade volume to $5 billion, the Turkish president said on Feb. 19.

The Government intends to continue to work on the most important cooperation project with Japan, the bilateral Strategic Partnership between the two countries, and chose the year 2021, when Romania and Japan celebrate 100 years of "efficient diplomatic relations," for the conclusion of the Partnership Agreement, stated interim Prime Minister Ludovic Orban.

US President Donald Trump has fired Deputy Secretary of Defense for Political Affairs John Rood, the Associated Press and TASS reported.

A senior official confirmed last year that Ukraine has made sufficient progress in fighting corruption to merit the release of $ 250 million from Congress by the Trump administration in a conflict with Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Back to Crisis

Things were beginning to look pleasantly boring in Bosnia after the recent formation of the central government in December, after which many political analysts and Bosnian citizens breathed a sigh of relief. But the respite from crisis was sadly short-lived in Bosnia.