Latest News from Turkey

At least 37 killed in Ankara blast: Health minister

At least 37 were killed while 125 wounded people were hospitalized after an explosion hit central Ankara on March 13, Health Minister Mehmet Müezzino?lu has said in a press conference. 

A bomb-laden car caused the blast, Interior Minister Efkan Ala said at the same conference after a security meeting in Ankara. 

Greece under huge pressure: Austria says Mediterranean route should be blocked

Greece finds itself in an even more precarious position on the refugee crisis. After the de facto sealing off of the western Balkan route, Austria has called for the closing of the Mediterranean sea route. A total of 9,000 refugees and immigrants on the islands of Greece ready to cross over into the mainland and continue their journey to the north of Europe.

Athens says backs Turkish observers on islands

Greece said March 13 it backs the presence of Turkish observers on its Aegean islands in a bid to speed implementation of a plan to return migrants stranded there to Turkey.

Four wounded in explosion in southeastern Yüksekova

Four people, including a reporter, have been wounded in a blast in the Yüksekova district of southeastern Hakkari province, just hours after a curfew which will become effective late on March 13 was announced. 

Al-Qaeda in Syria clashes with rebels, seizes weapons

Al-Qaeda fighters and allied jihadists clashed with a rebel faction overnight in northwestern Syria after storming its weapons depot, the group and a monitor said on March 13.

In tweets posted in the morning on March 13, Division 13 said it had failed to push back an attack by al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate, al-Nusra Front, and allied faction Jund al-Aqsa.

President gives bicycle to Syrian toddler beaten in ?zmir

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an has gifted a bicycle to a Syrian toddler who was captured on camera being hurled to the ground by a street vendor at a traditional bazaar in ?zmir, while the aggressor was released by a local court after a judicial control decision. 

Merkel calls Turkey's Davuto?lu to discuss upcoming EU summit

As her party braced for a backlash at key state polls on March 13 over her liberal refugee policy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel exchanged views with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu on an upcoming special summit between Ankara and the EU aimed at sealing a deal to stem illegal migrant flows from Turkey to Europe.

CHP leader: AKP will do 'anything' to remain in power

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) will do anything to stay in power, including committing political murder, Turkey's main opposition leader has said.

"Turkey is step by step sliding towards an authoritarian regime," Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal K?l?çdaro?lu told a group of reporters late on March 12 in the Seferihisar district of Aegean ?zmir province.

Merkel Faces Test over Refugee Policy in German Regional Elections

Three German states hold elections for regional parliaments on Sunday which are expected to show strong performance of The Alternative for Germany (AFD), a right-wing group opposed to Chancellor Angela Merkel's open-door policy on refugees.

Deputy PM hopeful of opposition support for taking new constitution to referendum

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmu? has voiced optimism for finding enough support to take a new constitution to a referendum with the help of deputies from the opposition parties.

Writing a new constitution is a "must" for this parliamentary term, Kurtulmu? said on March 12.

Istanbul named among top future financial centers

Istanbul has been named one of the world's top future financial centers along with Singapore, Shanghai, Dubai and others in a fresh report. The Istanbul Financial Center project should however be improved further in line with successful rising examples, such as Dubai, according to experts. 

Turkey's reform program one of broadest in G-20: Economy tsar

Turkey has one of the most comprehensive structural reform agendas in the G-20, Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet ?im?ek said late March 12.

Speaking at a meeting of a Turkish-British forum in Bath, southwest England, ?im?ek said the relationship between Turkey and the U.K. was "better than ever" and pointed to the U.K.'s support for Turkey's EU membership bid.     

NATO begins periodic surveillance of Turkish airspace

The Turkish General Staff has announced that a NATO Boeing E-3A Sentry Airborne Warning & Control System (AWACS) aircraft has begun surveillance in Turkish airspace as part of assurance measures for Turkey, while noting that NATO's mission would be conducted "periodically" in the coming months.

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