Latest News from Turkey

Iraq court sentences 40 to death over 2014 Tikrit massacre

An Iraqi court on Feb. 18 sentenced 40 men to death over the June 2014 massacre by jihadists and allied militants of hundreds of military recruits in Tikrit, a statement said.

The central criminal court in Baghdad found 40 of 47 defendants guilty of involvement in the "Speicher" massacre, named after the base near where the victims were captured before being executed.

Security teams on high alert in Istanbul after Ankara bomb attack

Security teams in Istanbul have stepped up measures following the Feb. 17 car bomb attack in Ankara that killed at least 28 people.

Security personnel at Istanbul's Atatürk Airport have been searching with bomb detectors any suspicious cars or people entering the airport. 

Ankara Blast Sinks EU Refugee Deal With Turkey

Turkey's Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu pulled out of talks on migrants scheduled for Thursday in Brussels, after a car bomb in the Turkish capital, Ankara, killed 28 people.

OECD cuts 2016 growth forecast, addresses risks emerging markets

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on Feb. 18 cut its 2016 economic growth forecast to 3 percent from 3.3 percent owing to disappointing data, sluggish demand, weak investment and a high risk of financial instability.

Turkey to inform P5 countries on PYD's link in Ankara bombing

The ambassadors of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council will be formally informed that the Feb. 17 deadly terror attack in Ankara "was carried out by Syria's Democratic Union Party's (PYD) military wing," Turkish officials have said. 

Turkey informs P5, EU on Ankara bomber's alleged PYD link

Turkey has informed world leaders, including the United States and Russia, that deadly Ankara car bombing was perpetrated by Syria's Democratic Union Party's (PYD) military wing, in an obvious message that they should no longer cooperate and support the Syrian Kurdish group. 

Plan to revive Russian economy to cost $11.7 bln: Minister

A Russian government plan to shore up the recession-battered economy will cost around 880 billion rubles ($11.7 billion), Economy Minister Alexei Ulyukayev told a cabinet meeting on Feb. 18.

Some of these funds have already been factored into the 2016 federal budget, Ulyukayev said, but the government still needs to find additional money.

EU court rules Iran bank assets should not have been frozen

The European Court of Justice ruled on Feb. 18 that the assets of Iran's Bank Mellat should not have been frozen from 2010, dismissing an appeal brought by the European Council. 

The Council, the grouping of the EU's 28 member states, froze the funds of a number of Iranian financial entities from 2010 to combat Iranian activities that could have led to it developing nuclear weapons. 

Borsa Istanbul launches new training program for employees of Bosnian bank

Turkey's main stock exchange, Borsa Istanbul, has announced the launching of a training program for employees of Bosna Bank International (BBI) in line with a memorandum of understanding with the bank to facilitate the mutual exchange of know-how and experience.

A total of 16 employees will receive training for one year from Borsa Istanbul and Turkey's Kuveyt Türk, it added. 

US believes mustard gas used by ISIL in Syria, Iraq

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants are believed to be responsible for sulfur mustard gas attacks in Syria and Iraq last year, the United States said on Feb. 17.

500 rebels cross Turkish border towards Syrian town of Azaz: Observatory

At least 500 rebels on Feb. 17 crossed the Turkish border heading for the Syrian town of Azaz in northern Aleppo province, a monitor said, where opposition forces have suffered setbacks at the hands of the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) forces.

Turkish barber offers free shaves to favorite soccer team

A barber in central Turkey has come up with a novel way of inspiring his local football team by offering free shaves until the end of the season for this weekend's winning goal scorer. 

Turkey builds 'first two-story container refugee camp'

Turkey has prepared two-story container homes for refugees at a camp in southeastern province of Kilis in anticipation of a fresh influx of people fleeing from a nearby Syrian town, a provincial deputy governor has said.

The Kilis Öncüp?nar refugee camp, established in 2012, already hosts more than 13,000 people.

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