Latest News from Turkey
Over 407,000 new jobs created in Turkey in 2017: Minister
Over 407,000 new jobs were created between Jan. 1 and March 27 in Turkey, a top official has said, adding that around 1 million new jobs were expected to be offered by June.
In a speech in Ankara on March 28, Labor Minister Mehmet Müezzinoğlu said that more than 407,000 new jobs were created since the beginning of 2017.
Atatürk would have said 'yes' in referendum, President Erdoğan says
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has slammed German daily Bild for running a bilingual headline saying "Atatürk would have said 'no'" to proposed charter amendments that will vastly increase the president's powers, saying Atatürk would have said "yes" because "he lived in a state that we would like to bring in."
VIDEO: Hospital employee filmed belly dancing in intensive care unit in Istanbul
A video showing a hospital employee belly dancing in the intensive care unit of a private hospital in Istanbul has caused consternation in Turkey, Turkish broadcaster Fox TV has reported.
The footage, which shows the hospital worker dancing while tending to a patient, emerged on March 28.
The hospital worker is also seen dangling his surgical gloves while dancing.
Tourists returning to Egypt and Turkey, Tour operator Cook says
Foreign holidays remain a top priority for Europeans despite economic and security worries, tour operator Thomas Cook said on March 28, reporting a 40 percent jump in bookings to Greece and signs of a recovery in travel to Turkey and Egypt.
"Customers' appetite to go abroad on holiday this summer is good across all our markets," CEO Peter Fankhauser said.
Istanbul Photo Awards 2017 winners announced
Frederic Lafargue's "Fleeing from Daesh" has been chosen as the Photo of the Year 2017 by the international jury of the 3rd Istanbul Photo Awards.
Sponsored by Turkish Airlines and Turkish Coordination and Cooperation Agency (TİKA), this year's contest saw an additional 22 photographers from 17 countries receiving awards.
Turkey-EU tension endangers upgrade to customs union
Ongoing tension between Ankara and Brussels could further complicate the launch of technical negotiations to upgrade a customs union agreement to the advantage of both sides, Turkish and European diplomats have admitted, revealing that a Turkey-EU summit at the leaders' level planned for May or June will not happen until the end of the year.
Russia remains inviolable for Turkey
Astute daily Hürriyet columnist Deniz Zeyrek wondered in a recent column whether Russia is inviolable for Turkey. He listed the things that Ankara should be blasting Moscow for but is not.
Producing cars is not enough for Turkey
We applauded Turkish scientist Bilge Demirköz at the cosmetic giant L'Oreal and UNESCO's "For Women in Science" award ceremony this year.
Is Turkey losing its sense of direction?
Turkey's drift from its commitment to the West and its institutions is becoming a widespread perception in Europe and the United States. Sadly, this perception is driving the Turkey-related decision making processes in most of those countries. Turkey is no longer seen as a major asset, partner or like-minded country.