Djibouti

Turkish Cypriot authorities have blocked a vessel hired by far-right activists to prevent would-be migrants from reaching Europe and detained its captain, the group and local media reported on July 26.

The captain and his second-in-command were taken into custody while the ship was stopped at the Turkish Cypriot port of Famagusta, Kıbrıs Postasi daily said.

The Chinese troops have reached their new military base in Djibouti, a mostly French- and Arabic-speaking country of dry shrublands, volcanic formations and Gulf of Aden beaches. The region is popularly known as the 'Horn of Africa'.

The Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias gave an interview on Alpha Radio, and he said some really interesting things:

M. NIKOLTSIOU: Minister, good morning and thank you for being with us.

N. KOTZIAS: Good morning from Kozani. I hope yours is a beautiful Saturday.

A Pentagon report released on June 6 singled out Pakistan as a possible location for a future Chinese military base, as it forecast that Beijing would likely build more bases overseas after establishing a facility in the African nation of Djibouti.

Turkey and six African countries signed cooperation deals in agriculture, fisheries and livestock in the Mediterranean resort province of Antalya on April 28.    

You must already know the story. The United States has barred passengers from bringing their laptops and iPads on board flights from eight Muslim-majority countries. Britain didn't wait too long to join the ban. As a result, the so-called "Muslim laptop ban" has become the hottest topic in Turkey.

What happened in London on March 22 was just another reminder to the international community of nations that no one is immune to terrorism and violence. Rising up all together and shouting "We are all Londoners" might help demonstrate solidarity with the victims and in condoning acts of terrorism. But would it help stop a similar dastard attack somewhere else tomorrow? Unfortunately not.

Pirates have hijacked an oil tanker with eight Sri Lankan crew onboard, a Somali official said on March 14, the first time they have successfully taken a commercial ship since 2012.  

The Aris 13 sent a distress call on March 13, turned off its tracking system and altered course for the Somali port town of Alula, said John Steed of the aid group Oceans Beyond Piracy. 

The number of people travelling to Turkey for transplant operations has doubled in the last two years, a specialist doctor told state-run Anadolu Agency on Feb. 10.        

Thousands of people will meet in Turkey's biggest city on Nov. 13 to run the Istanbul Marathon, the world's only road race where people can cross from Asia to Europe.