Latest News from Turkey

US journalist says he was denied entry to Turkey

A U.S. journalist said that he was banned entry to Turkey at Istanbul's main airport on April 25.

Journalist David Lepeska was sent back to Chicago from Istanbul's Atatürk Airport.

"Once you're denied entry to a country is all your future writing on that place seen as suspect? I don't hold it against you, Turkey," he tweeted.

ANALYSIS: Where is tax income spent in Turkey?

Social security costs have taken the lion's share of Turkey's tax income spending at 22 percent, followed by educational costs and interest rate payments. 

Some 5.2 percent of tax income is spent on security costs and 4.8 percent on military costs in Turkey, where indirect tax income has been quite higher than the world average. 

Turkish banks' funding costs to likely drop after rate cut: Moody's

Turkish banks' funding costs are likely to decline after Central Bank's rate cut, but if the Turkish Lira is pressured by expectations of a further rate cut, it could reverse the benefits to the cost of funding, said Moody's in a note on April 25. 

On April 20, the Central Bank cut its overnight lending rate 50 basis points to 10 percent. 

Turkey has deported more than 3,300 ISIL suspects: Official

A top official said on April 25 that Turkey has so far deported more than 3,300 foreigners suspected of links to jihadi groups, particularly fighters of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), and another 41,000 foreigners have been barred from entering Turkey as part of the country's fight against the militant group.

"Should poor, corrupt Albania, Serbia, and Turkey join EU?"

British Home Secretary Theresa May has raised the issue of EU's expansion to include candidate countries like Albania, Serbia, and Turkey.

The high ranking official of Britain's ruling Conservative Party made the remarks during her speech on the so-called Brexit - an initiative for the country's withdrawal from the EU and the upcoming June referendum on the issue.

Turkey's main opposition seeks parliament initiative as Syria rockets repeatedly hit border town

Turkey's main opposition party has appealed for a parliamentary inquiry into security measures taken on the country's border with war-torn Syria, as the southeastern province of Kilis has come under frequent attack from rockets fired across the border from Syria in the last few weeks, prompting the army to respond to each strike with howitzer fire.

US Embassy in Turkey quotes press freedom remarks of Obama, Kerry

The U.S. Embassy in Turkey has shared remarks by President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry praising press freedoms on its official Twitter account, using the hashtag #ÖzgürBas?n - #FreePress in Turkish. 

Talks with Israel advancing toward final step, Turkey says

The normalization of relations with Israel is expected to begin as negotiations between the two countries advance toward the final step, Turkish presidential spokesperson ?brahim Kal?n said April 25.

Greek photographer working for Bild turned back at Istanbul airport

 A German newspaper says a Greek photographer who was working for it has been turned back by Turkish authorities at Istanbul's main airport.

The Bild daily reported that Giorgos Moutafis was prevented from continuing to Libya on Saturday evening. He had to take the next plane back to the Greek capital, Athens, on Sunday morning.

IMF expects $500 bln revenue loss for Middle East oil exporters

The International Monetary Fund says oil exporting countries in the Middle East lost $390 billion in revenue due to lower oil prices last year, and should brace for losses of more than $500 billion this year.

Private time with spouse has positive impact on prisoners: Justice Ministry

Turkey's Justice Ministry has praised a 2013 policy to reward well-behaved convicts and arrestees with a "pink room" - a room to spend time with their spouses in private - for having a positive impact on prisoners. A total of 54,002 convicts were rewarded with pink room visits over the past three years, the ministry said. 

US-led coalition hits ISIL in Syria after deadly cross-border shelling on Turkey's Kilis

The U.S.-led coalition hit Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) targets in northern Syria, located directly across Turkey's Syrian border from the southeastern province of Kilis, after receiving coordinates from Turkey on April 25. The air strikes came in response to a series of ISIL attacks on Kilis, which houses more Syrian refugees than its population.

Turkey, coalition hit ISIL after rockets kill two in Kilis

The U.S.-led coalition hit Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) targets in northern Syria, located directly across from the southeastern province of Kilis, after receiving coordinates from Turkey on April 25. The air strikes came in response to a series of ISIL attacks on the border province, with a fresh attack April 24 killing two people, raising the total death toll to 17 since Jan.

Turkey's Science Academy awards 48 young academics

The Science Academy, an independent NGO which aims to promote scientific merit, has awarded 48 young academics as part of its annual Young Scientists Awards Program (BAGEP), which was launched to support young and successful scientists. 

World Bank, European Investment Bank set to invest in TANAP: Sources

The World Bank and the European Investment Bank are set to invest $1 billion and 1 billion euros, respectively, in the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline Project (TANAP) project, according to sources close to the matter. 

The TANAP project envisages gas transportation from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz II field through Turkey and up to the country's border with Europe.

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