Latest News from Turkey
Kanal Istanbul will bring Turkey greater peace: Erdoğan
The Kanal Istanbul mega-project will result in greater peace of mind for the Turkish nation, said Turkey's president on April 14.
"The Kanal Istanbul project, which has nothing to do with the Montreux Convention, will bring Turkey greater comfort and peace," said Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, referring to a 1936 agreement on the Turkish Straits, also in the Istanbul province.
Turkey fines Google $36.6 mln for breaking competition law
Turkish authorities on April 14 fined Google 296 million Turkish liras ($36.6 million) for violating the country's competition law.
Turkey's Competition Authority said Google violated the law by complicating organic search results in the content services market by prominently placing text ads at the top of its general search results, excluding its competitors.
Bulgaria: Crime Group of Vote Buyers Busted, Members Are MP Candidates
A criminal group involved in vote buying has been uncovered, prosecutors said. Among the participants was a candidate for MP and municipal councilor.
The crime ring was funded by a person living in a country outside the European Union.
‘İYİ party has no intention to become part of People’s Alliance’
İYİ (Good) Party has no plans to be a part of the People's Alliance of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), İYİ Party leader Meral Akşener said on April 14.
"I am telling your little partner and its friends; I have no intention of being among you," she said, addressing the İYİ Party group members at the parliament.
Turkey to prepare new proposals for Russia to resume flights
Turkey is preparing to introduce new proposals to Russia for the resumption of flights between the two countries, with plans for Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy to visit Moscow in the coming days to discuss the matter with the Russian authorities.
New era begins between Turkey, Egypt: FM Çavuşoğlu
A new era has started between Turkey and Egypt and mutual visits may come to the agenda, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu has said.
Speaking to reporters on April 13, he announced that a meeting will be held between the two countries at the level of deputy foreign ministers, but the planning is ongoing, and the date is not clear yet.
Canada cancels weapons sales to Turkey over Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict
Investigation concluded that Turkey deployed UCAVs to Nagorno-Karabakh that use Canadian technology foreign affairs minister says
‘Sofagate’ Revealed Uncomfortable Truth About EU Turkey Relations
But, after Von der Leyen's "Erm, what about me?" moment, the EU Commission Spokesperson Eric Manner declared that the incident had "sharpened her focus on women's rights' issues".
Turkey ranks as 5th biggest wind investor in Europe
Turkey has been ranked as the fifth-biggest wind power investor in Europe in 2020 with €1.6 billion, according to WindEurope's report on April 13.
The Financing and Investment Trends in the European Wind Industry in 2020 report said that investments in offshore wind farms hit a record €26.3 billion, while investments in new onshore wind farms reached €16.5 billion.
Turkey's fresh fruits and vegetables exports jump in Q1
Turkey's exports of fresh fruits and vegetables in the first quarter of the year reached $774.5 million, the head of a sectoral association said on April 13.
Nejdat Sin, head of the Mediterranean Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Exporters' Association, said in a statement that exports by the sector had increased by 22% compared to the same period last year.
Libya working to enable visa-free travel for Turks
Libya will work to enable visa-free visits for Turkish nationals, the prime minister of Libya's Government of National Unity said in the Turkish capital on April 13.
Istanbul to host Afghan peace conference on April 24
Turkey announced on April 13 that a keenly awaited international conference on the Afghan peace process will be held in Istanbul from April 24 to May 4.
The high-level and inclusive conference between representatives of the Afghan government and the Taliban is being co-convened by Turkey, Qatar, and the U.N., according to a joint statement issued by the Turkish Foreign Ministry.
NATO forces will leave together from Afghanistan: Blinken
The U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on April 14 the moment has come to withdraw troops from Afghanistan and that Washington would work with NATO allies on a "coordinated" pull-out.
"Together, we have achieved the goals that we set out to achieve and now it is time to bring our forces home," Blinken said in Brussels ahead of talks with NATO partners.
Photograph of Lake Van wins NASA competition
A photograph of Turkey's Lake Van taken from space by an astronaut has been crowned the winner in a weeks-long NASA competition.
The photo, which depicts the lake in eastern Turkey with its swirling cerulean and azure waters was one of two finalists heading into the final day of voting on April 12. It was captured by Kate Rubins in September 2016.
Greek foreign minister to visit Turkey
Greece's foreign minister is scheduled to pay Turkey an official visit on April 15, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
During the visit, Nikos Dendias will meet his Turkish counterpart, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, the ministry said on April 13.
All aspects of bilateral ties are on the meeting's agenda, along with current regional issues, the statement added.