Latest News from Turkey
Over 100 kg of heroin seized in eastern Turkey
Turkish police seized 100.1 kilograms (220.5 pounds) of heroin in the eastern province of Van, according to officials on July 27.
In a statement, the provincial security directorate said the drugs were recovered from a van stopped in the Seyrantepe neighborhood in the Tuşba district.
High-level Turkish delegation pays visit to Libya
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak, Presidential Spokesperson İbrahim Kalın and National Intelligence Organization (MİT) chair Hakan Fidan visited Libya on June 17 for official meetings.
The delegation met with the U.N.-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj.
President Erdoğan meets nationalist party leader
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on June 17 met with the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) at the presidential palace.
Erdoğan was expected to inform the MHP leader about the recent military operations into northern Iraq, Operation Claw-Tiger and Operation Claw-Eagle, along with recent developments in Libya.
5 million migrants live in Turkey: Official
Turkey is currently hosting 5 million migrants, 3.6 million of whom are Syrian nationals, the general director of the country's migration authority said on June 16.
İYİ Party leader criticizes online sexual threat against wife of former HDP co-head
İYİ (Good) Party leader Meral Akşener on June 17 criticized a tweet containing sexual assault threats against Başak Demirtaş, the wife of jailed former Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş, urging a stop to "doing politics over female bodies."
Turkey still blocking defense plans for Poland, Baltics, say NATO allies
Turkey continues to block NATO defense plans for Poland and Baltic states despite a deal in London last year between Turkey's president and allied leaders, three allied diplomats and a French defense official said on Wednesday.
Diplomats said while Ankara has approved the plan, known as Eagle Defender, it has not allowed NATO military chiefs to put it into action.
Former President Demirel commemorated
Turkey on June 16 remembered its ninth president, Süleyman Demirel, who passed away five years ago.
Demirel was ousted twice in military coups and survived an assassination attempt before dying of heart failure at the age of 91.
He was one of Turkey's most prominent center-right political figures, serving as prime minister seven times and as president from 1993 to 2000.
Second peak of coronavirus is possible, warns expert
Turkey may see a second peak of the coronavirus cases if people continue to ignore warnings and avoid necessary precautions, Professor Seçil Özkan from the Health Ministry's Science Board has said.
EU passenger car market narrows 41.5% in Jan-May
The EU's passenger car market shrank 41.5% in the January-May period this year compared to the same period last year, an industry group said on June 17.
Automobile registrations across the 27-member bloc stood at 3.33 million in the first five months of 2020, the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) announced.
Real sector recovery speeding up: Minister
Turkey's real sector has been recovering at an accelerated pace in June, with electricity consumption rising 31% in the first half of the month compared to May, the industry and technology minister said on June 17.
"In the first two weeks of this month, electricity consumption in the industry has now surpassed that of April and May," noted Mustafa Varank.
Foreign loan burden on Turkish private sector eases
The Turkish private sector's outstanding loans from abroad fell further in April compared to the end of last year, the country's Central Bank announced on June 17.
Long-term debts hit $173.6 billion as of April, falling $7.4 billion from end-2019, with 41.9% held by financial institutions.
Post-lockdown jump in coronavirus cases rattles Turkish officials
Turkey may have to adopt a harder line on social interactions following a worrying jump in coronavirus infections but it has no plans to reverse an easing of lockdown restrictions aimed at reviving the economy, officials say.
Art museums in Istanbul reopen with COVID-19 measures
Contemporary art museums in Istanbul reopened to art lovers on June 16 as Turkey continued to ease restrictions against the novel coronavirus.
Trabzonspor beats Fenerbahçe, reaches Turkish Cup final
Trabzonspor beats Fenerbahçe 3-1 in the Ziraat Turkish Cup semifinal match on June 16 to advance to final.
Trabzonspor secured the 5-2 aggregate victory, having won the first leg 2-1 at home in March.
The visitors took the lead in the sixth minute at Ülker Stadium, when Norwegian star Alexander Sorloth scored the opener.
Cyprus Defense Minister stresses need for EU naval presence in East Med
Cyprus Defense Minister Savvas Angelides briefed his EU counterparts on Tuesday on Turkey's ongoing activities in the Republic of Cyprus' exclusive economic zone (EEZ), stressing the need for an EU naval presence in the Eastern Mediterranean region.