Latest News from Turkey

'18 incidents, not suicide bomb attacks,' prevented: Turkish Interior Ministry

Turkey's Interior Ministry released a written statement late on Feb. 28, denying a report by state-run Anadolu Agency that quoted Mnister Efkan Ala as saying "authorities have prevented 18 suicide bomb attacks since Jan. 1."

"Such remarks were not been made during the interview," the statement said. "The words used were '18 incidents have been prevented.'"

Turkey denies hitting YPG positions in northern Syria

Turkish military sources have denied reports that Turkey hit Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) positions in Tal Abyad across the border on Feb. 27 and 28.

Speaking to daily Hürriyet, military sources said neither YPG nor Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) positions on the Syrian side of the border have been targeted, refuting Russia's claims.

Qatar trade figures slump almost 60 per cent in year

Qatar's balance of trade fell almost 60 percent in the year to January, official figures released on Feb. 28 showed, as the Gulf country grapples with a slump in global energy prices.

Fitch affirms Turkey's rating, outlook

Fitch Ratings affirmed Turkey's sovereign rating at BBB-, the lowest investment grade rating, with a stable outlook on late Feb. 26, noting that fiscal discipline remained in place in 2015 despite two parliamentary elections.

'Spotlight' team talks investigative journalism ahead of Oscars

"Spotlight," one of the strongest candidates at this year's Oscars, has already been hailed as one of the best ever movies on journalism. The movie covers the story of the Boston Globe's investigative Spotlight unit, which earned the daily the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for its reporting on child sex abuse in the Boston area by Roman Catholic priests.

Ex-DPS Head Mestan Urges Dialogue on Oligarchy with Bulgaria's 'PMs'

Former DPS party chair Lyutvi Mestan has said he is ready for a "deep conversation" about the oligarchs that have dominated Bulgaria for years, but has added "Prime Ministers" should also be involved.

Mestan on Sunday did an interview with private bTV station after launching his political project, Democrats for Responsibility, Solidarity and Tolerance (DOST), a day earlier.

Turkish tourism minister does not see 'severe trauma' in sector

Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Mahir Ünal said he does not see "severe trauma" in the sector, adding it will overcome the current "turbulence," in a televised interview on Feb. 27. 

"While the tourism sector will see turbulent days for a while, I believe we will overcome this turbulence. I do not see severe trauma [in the sector]," he said on Turkish news channel NTV. 

Turkey's Erdo?an embarks on major trip to Africa

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an will visit four West African countries next week, in a new sign of Ankara's desire to be a major influence in the region.

Franco-Turkish director's debut wins four Cesars

Franco-Turkish director Deniz Gamze Ergüven's film "Mustang" won four awards at the Cesar film awards in Paris on late Feb. 26.      

The film, which focuses on five teenage sisters living in rural northern Turkey, won awards for best debut film, best original screenplay, best original music and best editing at the 41st Cesar ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet.      

Police officer killed in PKK attack in Turkey's southeast

One police officer was killed on Feb. 28 in an outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) attack in the Nusaybin district of the southeastern province of Mardin.

PKK militants attacked an armored police vehicle with rocket propelled grenades, wounding three police officers inside. One injured police officer later died at Nusaybin State Hospital.

Bulgaria's Defense Ministry to Scrap Some Public Tenders

Defense Minister Nikolay Nenchev said on Sunday his institution will cancel some "less relevant" public procurement procedures to ensure a more efficient spending and transparency.

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