News archive of August 2016
Russian 5-crew helicopter shot down over Syria
A Russian Mi-8 helicopter has been shot down by ground fire in Syria following delivery of humanitarian supplies to Aleppo, the Defense Ministry said in a statement. The three crew and two officers from Russia’s reconciliation centre were returning to base. The condition of those on board has yet to be established, the ministry said.
Ankara summons German diplomat over ban on Erdoğan's videoconference at Cologne rally
The charge d'affaires at the German Embassy was summoned to the Foreign Ministry on Aug. 1 over the ban on President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's participation via videoconference at a rally in Cologne, Foreign Ministry sources have confirmed.
The charge d'affaires is expected to meet relevant diplomats at the Foreign Ministry headquarters in the afternoon hours.
Croatian centre-back Schildenfeld returns to Panathinaikos
Croatian centre back Gordon Schildenfeld has rejoined Panathinaikos football club, according to reports coming out of Croatia. The reports say the deal is sealed and the 31-year-old player is expected to arrive in Greece to sign his new contract after the match of his current club Dynamo Zagreb with Dynamo Georgia for the qualifying rounds of the Champions League.
Coast Guard officers rescue 34 migrants off Lesvos
Coast Guard officers rescued 34 migrants from a dinghy spotted off the coast of Lesvos on Monday following a weekend that saw virtually zero arrivals to the island.
The migrants were transferred to the island's reception center at Moria.
The influx of migrants into Greece has picked up since July 15 following a failed coup in neighboring Turkey.
Turkish opposition lays criticisms over gov't plans on army
Turkey's opposition parties voiced their diverse opinions about the third state of emergency decree law which would put the army under civil control, with the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) arguing that the changes would subordinate the army under political rule and thus cause it to lose its command capabilities and the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) along with the Peoples' D