Latest News from Turkey
Size of retail sector reaches $193 bln in 2019
The size of Turkey's retail sector reached 1.1 trillion Turkish Liras ($193 billion), according to a report by audit and consultancy firm KPMG Turkey.
The industry contracted in the first three quarters of 2019 by 5.3 percent, 3.9 percent and 1 percent, respectively last year.
The initial indicators suggest a recovery in 2020, the report added.
Gov't aims to plant 82 million saplings until November
Turkey's agriculture and forestry minister said 82 million saplings will be planted across the country until November this year.
"The rooting average of the saplings planted on Nov. 11, 2019 is 95 percent," Bekir Pakdemirli told Anadolu Agency's Editors' Desk in the capital Ankara.
Ankara foiled PKK plan to turn Afrin into top drug hub: Minister
Turkey's anti-terror operation in Afrin, northern Syria, foiled the PKK terror group's plans on turning the district into the world's largest drug center, country's Interior Minister said on Jan. 24.
Ottoman descendants in South Africa eagerly await Turkish citizenship
Some of the many families of Ottoman origin now residing in South Africa are eager to receive Turkish citizenship years after applying.
Turkey's hot springs attract Russian visitors
Hot springs in northwestern Turkey are attracting Russian vacationers looking for a way to heal various health problems.
Holidaymakers, especially those who suffer from rheumatic pain, skin and metabolic diseases, prefer Yalova province to enjoy the hot springs.
Pyatt voices US support for EastMed
US Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt told the Athens Energy Dialogues 2020 event on Thursday that his country warmly supports Greece's cooperation with Cyprus and Israel on the EastMed natural gas pipeline that forms part of the US strategy in the region.
German Parliament’s legal committee questions Turkey-Libya deal
The German Parliament's legal committee has questioned the validity of the maritime boundaries agreement signed between Turkey and Libya's UN-backed government in November.
Moscow denies reports it plans to recognize Turkish-occupied Cyprus
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has denied rumors that Moscow plans to recognize Turkish-occupied Cyprus which, according to some Turkish media reports, would take place in exchange for Turkey recognizing Abkhazia.
Turkey aims to soothe NATO over Russian missiles
Turkey's foreign minister has reiterated a proposal to establish a NATO-lead committee to review possible threats to the alliance from Turkey's purchase of a Russian-made missile defense system.
Mitsotakis says no EU deal on Libya unless Turkey accord scrapped
The European Union will not agree to a political solution to Libya's factional conflict unless Turkey and Libya abandon a maritime accord they signed in November, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Thursday.
No trace of missing Chaldean couple found
The search operation for a missing Chaldean Catholic couple has yielded no result for 12 days, their priesthood holder son said on Jan. 23.
Gendarmerie special forces, crime scene investigators, sniffer dog units, unmanned aerial vehicle operators and volunteers have been carrying out the search operation for Hurmuz and Şimuni Diril around Mount Kato since Jan. 11.
Greek island mayors press government to lighten migrants overload
Mayors of three Greek islands bearing the brunt of intensely overcrowded refugee and migrant camps demanded the transfer of thousands to the country's mainland during a meeting with the new migration minister in Athens on Thursday.
Cyprus backtracks on claim Turkey stole offshore gas data
Cyprus' government spokesman on Thursday backpedaled on a claim that Turkey may have stolen technical data it used to pinpoint a target for gas drilling in waters where the island nation has exclusive economic rights.
'At least hypocritical' for Turkey to invoke international law, says foreign ministry
Greece's Foreign Ministry on Thursday rejected arguments by Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar that Athens is allegedly violating international law by not demilitarizing 16 of its islands, saying Ankara's concern on legality is "hypocritical."
Akar said Greece's arming 16 out of 23 islands with "non-military status" is in violation of agreements in the Aegean sea.
We are rivals with all parties, opposition leader says
The establishment of new political parties is beneficial for Turkey and the voters, the leader of oppositional İYİ (Good) Party leader Meral Akşener has said.
"It will increase competition during elections. We are rivals with both two parties and also [main opposition Republican People's Party] the CHP and the AKP," Akşener told a group of journalists on Jan. 22.