Latest News from Turkey

New satellite to launch later this year, contribute to Turkey's terror fight

A new Turkish satellite set to launch in December is expected to contribute to the Turkish Armed Forces' (TSK) fight against terror, daily Milliyet reported on Sept. 16.

The satellite, named Göktürk 1, is scheduled to be launched into space on Dec. 5 from French Guiana in South America.

HDP deputy chair arrested on terror charges

The deputy chair of the opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) was arrested on terror charges in the northern province of Tokat early on Sept. 16. HDP deputy chair Alp Altınörs was sent to Tokat Courthouse and arrested over allegations of being a member of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Merkel criticizes Turkey over press freedom

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has criticized Turkey over press freedom, at an award ceremony of the Sanssouci Colloquium held in Germany's Potsdam. Merkel mentioned the former editor-in-chief of the daily Cumhuriyet, Can Dündar, during her speech, as she stressed the significance of press freedom.

Turkey builds nearly 9,000 mosques in 10 years

Nearly 9,000 mosques have been built over the last decade in Turkey, according to statistics released by Turkey's Religious Affairs Directorate (Diyanet). A total of 8,985 mosques were built between 2005 and 2015 in Turkey, while the Central Anatolian province of Konya contained the highest number of mosques, Doğan News Agency reported on Sept. 16.

AKP MP hints at three elections in three years

A ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) lawmaker has suggested that the party is working on a constitutional amendment to hold local elections in 2018 instead of 2019 and to postpone general elections by one year until 2020, in order to avoid having three polls in 2019, when a presidential election will also be held.

Young woman assaulted on public bus in Istanbul for wearing shorts

A young woman has been verbally and physically assaulted on a public bus on the first day of the Eid al-Adha holiday for wearing short pants, private broadcaster ShowTV has reported.

The 23-year-old woman was assaulted after she got onto the bus in the Maslak neighborhood of Istanbul on Sept. 12.

Five PKK militants killed in eastern Turkey

Five outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants, including those who killed a local politician on Sept. 14, were killed as part of ongoing operations in the Şemdinli district of the eastern province of Hakkari on Sept. 16, military sources have said.

Turkey among lowest in spending per student: OECD

Turkey is one of the countries with the lowest spending per student, according to a report prepared by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The report titled "Education at a Glance 2016" stated that Turkey's public expenditures for primary and secondary education were below the OECD average.

Turkey detains four over suspected plot against British, German missions

Turkish authorities have detained four people as part of an investigation into a potential threat against British and German diplomatic missions in the country but found no links to any terrorist groups, a Turkish official told Reuters on Sept. 16.

Legendary Turkish actor Tarık Akan dies at 66

One of the most notable names of the "Yeşilçam" era of modern Turkish cinema, actor Tarık Akan died on Sept. 16 in a private hospital where he was receiving cancer treatment. He was 66.

Akan's death was announced by the Nazım Hikmet Culture and Arts Foundation in a statement.

10 killed in PKK attack in eastern Turkey

Seven village guards, one specialist sergeant, one soldier and former village guard were killed on Sept. 15 in an outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) attack in the eastern province of Ağrı, according to officials.

Greece lags in economic freedom

Greece may have been accused of pursuing neoliberal policies in 2014 by the now-ruling leftists, but in fact this country then ranked a rather poor 86th among 159 states, according to the new Economic Freedom of the World report from Canada's Fraser Institute, which is based on data from that year.