Latest News from Turkey

Turkish court acquits inmates in 'Operation Return to Life' case

A local Istanbul court has acquitted some 400 suspects, who were inmates involved in a hunger strike and subsequent protest 16 years ago, which ended in dozens of casualties.

Some 399 inmates were tired with charges of "rioting, possession of explosives and manslaughter," by the court, which concluded the case on its 98th ruling on Jan. 22.

Hungarian PM Orban Backs Austria's Cap on Asylum Seekers

Austria's decision to limit the number of asylum-seekers crossing its borders is "capitulation of dogmatic thinking to reality and common sense", Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said.

Europe cannot accept huge masses of foreigners without setting limits and controls, Orban told public broadcaster Kossulth Radio on Friday, according to hungarytoday.hu.

US, Turkey to speak on Syria, ISIL and PKK

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden is in Turkey for a two-day visit to hold talks with the country's president and prime minister regarding Syria, the international coalition against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and Turkey's fight against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Iraqi PM asks Turkey to pull out troops

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has appealed to Turkey to pull its troops out of Iraqi territory and instead provide training and equipment to fight the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), one day after he held a meeting with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Police officer killed in clashes with PKK militants

One police officer was killed on Jan. 22 during clashes with outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants in the Cizre district of southeastern ??rnak province.

Special operations police officer Bayram Özdere was killed when PKK militants opened fire during intense clashes in the district's Sur neighborhood.

Turkish president to meet HDP lawmaker

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an has said he will meet Leyla Zana, a deputy from the Kurdish-problem-focused Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP).

Speaking to reporters in Istanbul on Jan. 22 over Zana's request to meet with the president, Erdo?an said the HDP A?r? deputy made the request.

Mustafa Koç's last meeting with President Erdo?an on defense bids

President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an said he talked about defense projects with Koç Holding Chairman Mustafa Koç a day before the businessman's death from a heart attack on Jan. 21. Erdo?an also said he'll attend the funeral ceremony of Koç on Jan. 24.

Turkey intensifies raids on fake life vests

Teams from Turkey's Labor and Social Security Ministry destroyed some 2,500 substandard life vests in simultaneous operations carried out at 121 firms which sold personal protective equipment in eight provinces on Jan. 22.

EUR 3 B May Not Be Enough to Contain Migrant Influx, Turkish PM Tells DPA

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has said that the financial aid of EUR 3 B pledged by the EU may not be enough to help his government cut the flow of refugees into Europe because nobody knows how long the crisis will last.

In Photos: Security ops continue amid ruined homes in Cizre

Security operations against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) are continuing amid ruined homes and destroyed pavements in Cizre, in Turkey's southeastern province of Şırnak

Davos HeForShe participants express condolences for Koç

The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, dubbed U.N. Women, has expressed its deepest condolences for Turkey's leading businessman Mustafa Koç, who passed away a day before his scheduled attendance at the initiative's meeting in Davos on Jan. 22.