Antalya

An interesting paradox of the April 16 referendum is that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) alliance, in comparison to the Nov. 1, 2015, elections, was able to increase its votes only in the east and especially in the southeast. 

Turkey's most important referendum that resulted in a shift to an executive presidency produced a major controversy with both "yes" and "no" camps claiming victory because the results were so close and the latter announcing that it would issue complaints about the irregularities during the voting and counting processes.

Turkey's foreign minister said on April 8 that in the absence of strong follow-up efforts, the U.S. missile strike on Syrian regime base could amount to nothing but a "cosmetic" move that accomplishes little. 

In a speech in the Mediterranean city of Antalya, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said, "The ideal solution is a political solution." 

Lawyers have said a Roman Empire-era coffin depicting the 12 labors of Hercules is set to go home to Turkey, ending a legal battle over a prized artifact that had mysteriously turned up in Geneva's secretive customs-office warehouse years ago.

Property sales to foreigners continued to plunge in Turkey in February, while overall sales also saw a quite slight fall, official data showed on March 24. 

Housing sales decreased by 0.2 percent in February compared to the same month of the previous year to 101,468 units, the Turkish Statistics Institute (TÜİK) announced.      

The Forestry and Water Affairs Ministry has issued warnings to businesses active in 21 areas where sea turtles nest in Turkey, asking them to follow rules when laying out sunbeds and umbrellas and to turn off their lights at night during spawning season.

At least 4,000 foreign criminals are currently in jail in Turkey, according to official data, daily Milliyet has reported.

The foreign criminals are convicted of crimes including prostitution, robbery, hijacking, printing and transferring counterfeit money, drug and human trafficking.    

President Vladimir Putin hailed close ties between the Russian and Turkey militaries as he welcomed Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan for Friday’s talks focusing on Syria.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, met in Moscow on March 10 for a bilateral high-level cooperation council summit. 

France's AccorHotels and Turkey's Rixos Hotels signed a strategic partnership deal to expand mainly in the luxury segment, Reuters reported March 6. 

Under a long-term joint venture, both parties said they intended to collaborate, develop and manage Rixos-branded resorts and hotels around the world, according to statements from the companies.