Latest News from Turkey

Turkish, German defense ministers pledge 'unity against terrorism'

The defense ministers of Turkey and Germany have pledged "unity" in the fight against terrorism, little more than a week after 10 German tourists were killed in Istanbul's historic quarter by an Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) suicide bomber.

Turkey objects to PYD as date for Syria talks remains unclear

Ankara has objected to the inclusion of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) in Syrian peace talks on the side of the opposition, while the beginning of the peace talks, which were initially planned for Jan. 25, are still unclear.

HDP deputy calls for end to jailed PKK leader's isolation

A deputy from Turkey's Kurdish-focused party has called for an end to the isolation of Abdullah Öcalan, the jailed leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), and continuation of the long-stalled Kurdish peace talks.

No grade reports for 81,000 students in under-curfew southeastern towns

More than 81,000 students in three southeastern Turkish towns will not be able get their half term grade reports on Jan. 22, as education has been suspended in the towns since Dec. 14, 2015.

Some 17.5 million students across Turkey will enter their 15-day-long semester break on Jan. 22, when they will receive their grade reports.

Bitlis' dogs dressed up against cold

German animal lover Sabina Herriger has donated clothes for the animals at Bitlis Municipality's dog shelter, as the eastern Turkish town regularly sees temperatures plunge to minus 20 degrees at night. All dogs at the shelter are now snugly dressed up in the water-proof polar clothes sent by Herriger.

Erdo?an transplants Turkey's oldest olive tree for 'green life expo'

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an has taken part in a ceremony to replant the country's oldest olive tree, which was uprooted after 945 years, at the site of a "green life expo" in Antalya.

Tension in southeast Turkey spreads to parliament

Lawmakers from Turkey's two opposition parties and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) engaged in a heated debate on Jan. 20 over the latest clashes in the southeastern town of Cizre, which has been under curfew for 39 days.

Tension over clashes in southeast Turkey spreads to parliament

Drone used by PKK found in southeast Turkey

Turkish security forces have found a drone used by outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants, during a search conducted as part of post-curfew operations in the southeastern town of Silopi, private broadcaster CNNTürk has reported.

The curfew imposed on Silopi, a district in the ??rnak province, back on Dec. 14 last year was partially lifted on Jan. 19.

Biden denies differences of opinions on Syria with Turkey ahead of key visit

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden is scheduled to hold two days of talks in Turkey on Jan. 22 and 23 with particular emphasis on Iraq and Syria as well as the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

Turkey and the United States have common interests in Syria, Biden said, denying the existence of any differences between the two allies.

Bosnia Police Arrest ISIS Suspect at Airport

Bosnian State Investigation and Protection Agency, SIPA, which deals with organised crime and terrorism, arrested a man on Wednesday night at Sarajevo airport suspected of having fought for Islamic State terrorists.

The 29-year-old originally from Velika Kladusa, with the initials M.K., is believed to have fought with Islamic State from November 2014 to June 2015.

Turkey's top judicial body dismisses four judges from profession

Turkey's top judicial body has dismissed two judges who were arrested for ordering the release of 76 suspects thought to have links to the "Fetullahist Terrorist Organization" (FETÖ), as well as two other judges who released three police officers that were detained on charges of illegal wiretapping.