Afro-Eurasia

At least 828 people made the dangerous journey across the English Channel on board small boats in a single day at the weekend - a new record for the current crisis, Evening Standard reported.

“Caucasus 2020” is currently underway during which some of the state-of-the-art Russian weapons, such as the S-400 system, are being tested

The Romani emancipation Memorial Day, marked each year on February 20, evokes a moment of great importance for the Roma minority in Romania, but also a fundamental historical step of our country towards democracy and modernity, President Klaus Iohannis said on Wednesday in a message.

More than 200 people of Roma origin went on Monday to protest at the Council of Ministers with the request for the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Krassimir Karakachanov. Their discontent was provoked by the demolition of the Roma neighborhood in the village of Voyvodinovo in Plovdiv and Karakachanov's comment that "the Gypsies have become extremely insolent".

Local purveyors of gypsy jazz Gadjo Dilo take the stage at Gazarte's roof stage on Saturday, December 22, and Friday, December 28, for an especially upbeat concert of numbers from Italy and France, as well as original work stemming from the band's albums "Manouche De Grec" and "Manouche De Grec Vol II." Doors open at 10.30 p.m.

Representatives of Serbia’s Roma community said they plan to sue the state at the European Court of Human Rights after a Belgrade court acquitted members of paramilitary group of killing 27 Roma civilians in 1992.

The U.S. mission to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has called on Turkey to bring an end to the ongoing state of emergency, expressing deep concern about the deteriorating state of human rights.

"In light of the March 26 events in northern Kosovo and subsequent developments, the OSCE chairmanship-in-office and the OSCE secretary general call on all sides to refrain from provocations and reengage in constructive dialogue," Alfano and Greminger are quoted as stating in a press release.

Harlem Désir, the Organization for Security and co-Operation in Europe(OSCE) Representative on Freedom of the Media, has criticized the Turkish government over the detention of hundreds of social media users for criticism the ongoing Afrin operation in Syria.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says that despite a certain amount of progress being made, there is still instability in some parts of the Balkans.

Tillerson spoke on Thursday in Vienna, Austria, where he is attending the OSCE Ministerial Council.