Turkey

Total has said it signed an agreement to sell its service station network and commercial sales, supply and logistics assets located in Turkey to Demirören for 325 million euros (around $356 million) in a written statement on Sept. 1. 

The transaction is subject to the customary approvals. 

The number of unregistered Syrian migrants that have arrived on the Greek island of Lesbos has exceeded the resident population, some 90,000, this year, said Mayor Spyros Galinos, who has suggested official boat or plane routes to save lives.  

Excavation work at Ovaören village in Central Anatolian Nev?ehir province has brought to light a settlement in ancient Yass?höyük dating back to 1,700 B.C.

The ancient site could, however, even date back to 6,000 B.C., said the head of the excavation team and the director of the Gazi University Archaeology Department, Yücel ?enyurt.

Shares in leading companies owned by Koza ?pek Holding, a corporation linked to the Turkish government?s ally-turned-nemesis Fethullah Gülen, tumbled more than 15 percent yesterday after media reported that police had raided the group?s companies.

Turkey is preparing voting stations for Turkish nationals living abroad, with 112 to be opened in 54 countries before the Nov. 1 general election, the country's electoral authority said on Sept.1.

The Supreme Election Board (YSK) said the overseas polls would be open between Oct. 8 and Oct. 25.

Ambassador Öztürk Y?lmaz, Turkey?s former consul general to Mosul who was among 49 hostages held by extremist militants in Iraq for 101 days, has resigned from Foreign Ministry to run in the Nov. 1 snap parliamentary elections as a candidate lawmaker for the Republican People?s Party (CHP), Turkish media reports said.

The Vienna-based International Press Institute (IPI) has called on the Turkish government to stop using anti-terror laws and financial agencies against journalists in the wake of police raids targeting a corporation and the arrests of two British journalists.

Turkey?s exports decreased by 4.9 percent to $10.48 billion in August year-on-year largely due to fluctuations in parity and geopolitical risks, the Exporters? Assembly of Turkey (T?M) announced on Sept. 1. 

Turkey?s top professional tennis player, Marsel ?lhan, ranked 84th in the ATP rankings, has advanced to the second round of the U.S. Open.

?lhan was leading 6-0, 2-6, 6-4, 3-2 against veteran Radek Stepanek on Aug. 31 when Stepanek withdrew due to an injury.

?lhan said he was happy to have won against an experienced player.

Representatives of opposition political parties criticized police raids on media outlets of the Koza Media Group on Sept. 1, with a main opposition party forming a commission to examine pressure on media outlets in Turkey.