Latest News from Turkey

Turkey's first 'super town' to be built in Eski?ehir

An energy-efficient "super town" being constructed in the Central Anatolian province of Eski?ehir will be an "example" for Turkey of progressive and innovative urban planning, according to the city's mayor.

Second batch of deported migrants land in Turkey

A group of 45 Pakistani migrants arrived in the Turkish coastal town of Dikili on April 8 after being expelled from Greece under a Turkey-EU deal to halt mass migration to Europe, a local official said.

"The migrants are busy getting off the boat for identity and health checks," the official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Greece sends more migrants to Turkey

Greece deported a second batch of migrants to Turkey on April 8 under an EU-Turkey deal to stem mass migration to the bloc, as Germany announced a sharp drop in asylum claims.

Greek officials said two boats carrying 124 migrants - most of them Pakistani men - had been sent back across the Aegean Sea where hundreds have lost their lives in a quest to reach Europe.

Freedom of expression, press issues in Turkey affecting economic growth: Economist

The political system and the rule of law have a significant effect on a country's growth in the long term aside from macroeconomics, said a leading economist and daily Hürriyet columnist, highlighting the issues of freedom of expression and the press in Turkey in terms of economics.

Freedom of expression, press issues in Turkey affecting economic growth: Expert

Istanbul village heads file complaint over 'insulting' cartoon cover

The Istanbul Village Heads Solidarity Association has filed a criminal complaint against Turkish cartoon magazine Leman's management and one of its caricaturists over an "insulting" cover, which depicted a village head - allegedly drawn akin to jailed outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan - taking a selfie with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an.

Lebanon ex-minister jailed for 13 years on 'terror' charges

A Lebanese military court sentenced former information minister Michel Samaha to 13 years in prison with hard labour on April 8 for attempting to carry out "terrorist acts", a judicial source told AFP.

Turkey's first Roma deputy calls for solid action against discrimination on Roma Day

Turkey's first Roma deputy, Özcan Purcu, has drawn attention to discrimination against Roma citizens, citing problems in education, healthcare and equal access to the job market. The deputy asked for "proof of love [for Roma people]" on International Roma Day, marked on April 8 each year, by taking efficient political action, instead of uttering "vain words."

Suspicious banner on Istanbul highway leads to traffic chaos

Thousands of Istanbul locals spent hours in traffic early on April 8 after a suspicious gas tube tied to banner that was left on a roadside in Istanbul's Okmeydan? neighborhood alarmed police.

The highway, one of the two main roads in Turkey's most crowded city, was shut down as a precaution, and bomb disposal experts were dispatched to the scene.

Turkish banks' capital headroom could erode as full Basel III rules come into play: Moody's

Some Turkish banks will likely need to issue additional capital to avoid a shortfall before the full implementation of Basel III in 2019, said Moody's Investors Service in a report April 7.

Turkey probes Russia's 'politically motivated' claims on smuggled Syrian antiquities

Turkey is investigating Russian claims that Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants in Syria and Iraq have profited from smuggling stolen antiquities through its territory, despite its belief the charges were politically motivated, a Turkish official said on April 7.