Latest News from Turkey

Brussels attacker was deported from Turkey twice, say Turkish officials

One of the attackers in the Brussels suicide bombings was deported from Turkey twice last year, despite Turkish president saying having deported the attacker once, and the authorities warned their European counterparts that they suspected him of being a militant fighter, two Turkish officials said on March 24.

Failure to stop ISIL attack rocks Belgium

Revelations from Turkey that it had informed Belgium that at least one of the bombers in the March 22 Brussels attack was a jihadist fighter have rocked the Western European country after authorities failed to prevent the deadly assault.

We owe it to Turkish people to end visa requirement, EU minister says

Turkey's government owes the lifting of visas to Schengen Zone members to its people, Turkish EU Minister Volkan Bozk?r has said.

"The AK Party [Justice and Development Party] government will ensure the lifting of the visa [requirement]. This is our debt to our people, and we really want to make this happen," he said March 24 in an interview with Anadolu Agency in Helsinki.

Ban Ki-moon meets Istanbul Mayor Topba? following terror attacks

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon paid a visit to Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topba? on March 24, in the aftermath of the terror attacks that rocked Istanbul and Brussels in less than one week.

Turkish tourism and economy struggle due to bombings, Russia chill

Suicide bombings in Istanbul, a row with the Kremlin and hard times for the Russian middle class - all these factors spell trouble for Turkey's tourist industry and its wider economy.

Nowhere is the mood gloomier than among shopkeepers in Istanbul, Turkey's cultural gem and scene last weekend of the second suicide attack on tourists in the city this year.

Turkish ministry to offer subcontracted workers new status

Subcontracted workers will be employed by the state as "private contracted personnel," Turkey's finance minister said on March 23, one day after Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu announced a new regulation for over 700,000 workers across the country was on the way.

F-35 fighter program delayed due to software shortcoming

A F-35 stealth fighter jet program that involves the United States, Turkey and others will be delayed for one year due to several technical shortfalls, including problems with radar software, a Pentagon tester said March 23.

Israeli PM 'hopes to normalize ties' with Turkey in upcoming meet

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on March 23 that he was hopeful that upcoming negotiations between Israel and Turkey "will produce positive results" and enable the renewal of relations between the two countries.

Russia Says Ready to Build Black Sea Pipeline

Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesperson has assured the country stands ready to carry through the construction of a gas pipeline to Europe going under the Black Sea.

He has pointed out such a project can be put into practice as long as the European Commission is interested.

One arrested over Istanbul bomb attack

One suspect, who was detained in the southeastern province of Gaziantep over the March 19 Istanbul suicide attack, was arrested on March 23.

An Istanbul court ruled for the arrest of Erkan Çapk?n for allegedly having connections to the suicide bomber of the March 19 attack, Mehmet Öztürk.

Parliament to inquire into sexual child abuses

Turkey's Parliament decided on March 24 to establish an inquiry commission to conduct an in-depth probe into the alleged sexual abuse of children following news reports that eight male students were raped by their teacher at a private foundation in the Central Anatolian province of Karaman.