Latest News from Turkey
Erdo?an vows to continue with Kanal Istanbul
President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an has highlighted the ambition to build the assertive "Kanal Istanbul" project, which foresees the building of a giant canal on Istanbul's European side to ease the aquatic traffic of the city's busy Bosphorus Strait, "regardless of what anyone says."
Saudi King welcomed by Erdo?an in Ankara
Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz was welcomed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an at Ankara's Esenbo?a airport as he is paying a visit to Turkey for the 13th Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit, which will last until April 15.
The Saudi King, whose visit triggered a week of intense preparations in Ankara, used an escalator to debark his plane.
Parents protest Syrian students in southeast Turkey
Parents of students studying at a newly-opened school in the southeastern Kilis province protested having Syrian students also enrolled in the school's afternoon session classes.
Turkey concerned over new wave of migrants from Aleppo
Renewed fighting in Syria has been fueling Turkey's concerns over a new wave of migrants from Aleppo, Turkish Presidential Spokesman ?brahim Kal?n has said, stressing that "neither the Syrian regime nor its supporters" have been acting in line with the U.N.'s priorities for achieving a political transition
Aleppo, Damascus will 'one day be liberated,' vows Turkish PM Davuto?lu
Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu has again said he believes that cities in Syria - Aleppo, Raqqa, Homs and Damascus - will "one day be liberated."
"One day, God willing, Aleppo, Raqqa, Homs and Damascus will be free," Davuto?lu said on April 11 in a speech in Turkey's southeastern province of ?anl?urfa.
Turkey hosts over 2.7 million Syrians four years into war
Turkey hosts over 2.7 million Syrians under its temporary protection regime but only some 270,000 stay in camps, according to figures from the Interior Ministry's Directorate General of Migration Management. The highest number of Syrians resides in southern and southeastern towns along the Syrian border, with the striking exception of Istanbul, home to nearly 400,000 migrants.
Turkish nationalists, PKK supporters clash in Germany's Cologne
Supporters of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and a number of smaller groups clashed with Turkish nationalists on the streets of Germany's Cologne on April 10, prompting a police intervention and further clashes with the security forces.
Some 24 people were detained while one man was seriously injured.
Two serious violations of Greek airspace by Turkish fighters
The Turkish military air-force made violated Greek national airspace on two separate occasions Monday. Two F-4 fighter jets and a KC-135 refueling aircraft flew at 22,000 feet over the northeast side of the island of Lesvos, while another couple of F-16 fighters flew over the isle of Oinousses northeast of Chios earlier.
Iraqi government to give unpaid contractors bonds instead of cash
Iraqi government contractors will be receiving bonds in lieu of cash as a solution to payment delays caused by the collapse in the nation's oil income, the Iraqi Central Bank said on April 10.
The bonds can be traded in the local market or cashed at banks for a discount, the Central Bank said in an emailed statement. It did not indicate a maturity or interest rate.
Man convicted of murdering Turkish girl shot dead in prison
A man convicted of murdering of 20-year-old college girl Özgecan Aslan was killed in a gun attack in a prison in the southern province of Adana on April 11.
Ahmet Suphi Alt?ndöken and his father, Necmettin Alt?ndöken, were badly wounded in the attack at the Adana E-type closed prison.
Turkey's current account gap narrows over oil plunge
Turkey's current account deficit stood lower than expected at $1.79 billion for February, a fall of more than $1.5 billion year-on-year, the Central Bank said on April 11.
Turkey confirms asking Germany to prosecute comedian for insulting Erdo?an
A senior Turkish official has confirmed that Ankara had officially requested Germany criminally prosecute a comedian for allegedly insulting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an in a poem.
New Be?ikta? stadium inaugurated amid empty tribunes
The long-awaited new Be?ikta? stadium was inaugurated in a ceremony on April 10 with the attendance of politicians at the highest level, including President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an and Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu. Black eagles' supporters, however, were denied entry to the tribunes of their new home pitch due to tight security measures.
Kyrgyzstan PM Sariyev resigns after cabinet accused of graft
Kyrgyz Prime Minister Temir Sariyev resigned on April 11 after a parliamentary commission accused his cabinet of corruption, a move highlighting tensions between different factions of President Almazbek Atambayev's supporters.
"Squabbles, rumours and gossip have upset the balance within the government," Sariyev said. "The government's work has stalled at such a difficult time."
PM picks deputy governor Çetinkaya as Turkey's next Central Bank chief: Officials
The Turkish government has chosen Murat Çetinkaya, a deputy Central Bank governor, to be the Bank's new governor, Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmu? announced on April 11 after a cabinet meeting led by Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu in ?anl?urfa on April 11.