Latest News from Turkey

Angela Hewitt to play in Istanbul

Canadian pianist Angela Hewitt will be performing at Istanbul's Sak?p Sabanc? Museum's Seed on Feb. 12.

The 58-year-old pianist will play for Turkish music-lovers as part of the "Istanbul Recitals" concert series.

Apart from Bach, Hewitt will be playing works by Schubert, Haydn and Beethoven at the concert.

Wall stone of historic eastern Turkish mosque stolen

A stone on the wall of a historical mosque in the eastern province of Bitlis has been removed and stolen by treasure hunters, one of whom has since been caught by police.

Turkish banking sector grew 18 percent in 2015: TBB

Turkey's banking sector grew by 18 percent last year, with lenders' overall balance sheet size reaching 2.3 trillion Turkish Liras, according to the Banks Association of Turkey (TBB).

Adjusted for exchange rate differences, growth stood at 11 percent.

However, the sector's total assets decreased by 6 percent in dollar terms, falling to $808 billion.

Syrian refugee children to join Rio carnival parade

Refugee children from Syria and other conflict-torn countries will be treated to a place in Rio de Janeiro's exuberant carnival parade on Feb. 9, UN officials said.

Sewage discharged in Aegean at touristic resort town of Ayval?k

Sewage from Turkey's popular tourism resort town of Ayval?k has been discharged into the Aegean since Dec. 17, allegedly due to a debt of 4.4 million Turkish Liras owed by the municipalities of Ayval?k and Bal?kesir to a wastewater treatment facility.

MHP: Turkish PM extended olive branch to PKK in Mardin

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu has extended "an olive branch" to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) with a recent speech in the southeastern province of Mardin, Turkey's nationalist opposition leader has suggested, comparing Davuto?lu with figures from British history whose reputations in Turkey have been associated with efforts against national interests.

Turkish President Erdo?an hosts urgent security summit with top officials

President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an decided to host a hastily arranged security meeting with top officials on Feb. 9, as Turkey struggles to cope with the latest influx of refugees from Syria and ongoing operations against militants of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in the southeast.

Two killed, one wounded in southeast car blast

Two public servants have been killed while another has been wounded in a car bomb explosion in the southeastern ??rnak province.

Minister Y?ld?r?m calls on operators to begin fiber mobilization

Transportation, Maritime Affairs and Communication Minister Binali Y?ld?r?m has called on operators to launch a campaign to bring fiber everywhere in Turkey as soon as possible.

EU's Tusk says Russian bombings make situation in Syria even worse

Top European Union official Donald Tusk denounced Russian air strikes in Syria as helping the "murderous" government of President Bashar al-Assad and triggering fresh waves of refugees fleeing toward Europe.

Swiss use tear gas, rubber bullets to break up Kurdish rally

Zurich police used tear gas and rubber bullets to try to break up a group of around 100 activists holding an unauthorized demonstration outside the Turkish consulate in Switzerland's financial capital on Feb. 8.

Female police officer to run new domestic violence bureau

Turkey's top police body has appointed a female police officer as the head of a newly-founded bureau in the Istanbul Police Department, one among dozens that were established across the country specializing in domestic violence against women and children.