Latest News from Turkey

Turkey raises taxes on fuel, cuts housing sales tax

Turkey has raised its special consumption tax on gasoline, diesel, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and some mineral oils, while it has cut value added tax on home sales, according to a decree published in the Official Gazette on Sept. 8. 

No transition process in Syria with al-Assad: Turkish FM

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu has dismissed the possibility of a transition process in Syria including Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, adding operations conducted by the Free Syrian Army (FSA) should continue towards the south of the country and that the Manbij area "should be cleared of terrorists." 

No Syria plan without Turkish consent possible after Jarablus operation: Erdoğan

Turkey's "successful and rapid" cross-border operation into Syria "to clear the border of jihadists has changed the world's view of the region," President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has stated, claiming that no longer can any plan in Syria be implemented without Turkish consent. 

Trustees appointed to two southeastern municipalities

Trustees were appointed to two municipalities in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır on Sept. 8. The trustees were appointed to the Sur and Silvan municipalities upon a decision by the Diyarbakır Governor's Office.

Europe To Fund Refugee Debit Cards in Turkey with Euro 348 M

The European Commission announced today the largest project for humanitarian aid in the history of the EU. The project is worth Euro 348 M and is aimed at helping over 3 million Syrian refugees in Turkey.

Staple food prices rise 7 percent in August, says UN's FAO

Staple food prices rose 7 percent in August in comparison to the previous year on the back of a rise in commodities other than grains, the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said Sept. 8. 

Staple food prices rose in August even as grain prices fell, and the outlook for global cereal production improved, the FAO said in a statement. 

Joint Bulgarian-Greek Units To Patrol Borders with Turkey

As of the end of September, joint Bulgarian-Greek units will patrol the Bulgarian-Greek and Bulgarian-Turkish borders against the illegal traffic of refugees. In the current situation, there are sections along the Bulgarian-Greek and Bulgarian-Turkish borders which are not secured physically and are being used for the trafficking of migrants.

10 new Turkish sites on UNESCO list

A total of 10 new heritage sites from Turkey have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Tentative List. 

Police detains lawyer of intel truck prosecutors, 13 bags of 'secret docs' seized: Reports

Police in Ankara on Sept. 8 detained the lawyer of a former Adana Public Chief prosecutor and two other prosecutors who are currently under arrest for ordering the 2014 stop and search of Turkish intelligence service trucks bound for Syria with the alleged purpose of arming Syrian rebels, a claim denied by government officials. 

More than 11,000 teachers suspended over PKK links

More than 11,000 teachers have been suspended over suspected links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Turkey's Education Ministry announced on Sept. 8. 

"A total of 11,285 personnel linked to the separatist terrorist organization have been suspended," the ministry stated via Twitter. 

Visitor numbers plummet at İzmir museums, ancient sites amid Turkish tourism strife

The number of visitors to museums and ancient sites in the western Turkish province of İzmir, operated by the İzmir Provincial Culture and Tourism Directorate, decreased by 36.6 percent in the first seven months of 2016 compared to the same period last year. 

Revenues in the same term also fell to 6.4 million Turkish Liras, marking a 29.5 percent decrease.

EU to give debit cards to refugees in Turkey

The European Union announced plans on Sept. 8 to distribute debit cards to refugees in Turkey to help them meet basic needs as part of a multi-billion euro aid deal with Ankara to curb migrant flows to Europe.

Turkey's industrial production drops sharply after failed coup attempt

Turkey's industrial production declined sharply in July, largely as a result of the failed coup attempt on July 15, data from the Turkish Statistics Institute (TÜİK) showed on Sept. 8. 

Industrial output fell 4.9 percent in July, on a calendar-adjusted basis, from the same month last year.

Top Turkish soldier likens anti-PKK fight to do-or-die struggle

The security forces' fight against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) is a "do-or-die" struggle, the commander of Turkey's gendarmerie forces has said, discussing ongoing operations in the Çukurca district of Hakkari province. 

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