Latest News from Turkey
Syrian crisis dominates politics in 2015
1) EU, Turkey joined by Syrian migrant crisis
European Union leaders became desperate to slow the flow of humanity to the shores of Europe over the past year, as Turkey promised to retain more refugees on its soil in return for greater benefits from the 28-member bloc.
Turkey wakes up to tax hikes on alcohol, tobacco and electricity in New Year
The cost of cigarettes, alcoholic drinks and electricity are all set to lighten Turks' wallets after the government imposed price hikes on the goods and services with the advent of the new year.
The government increased special taxes on the goods two days after announcing a 30 percent hike in the minimum wage for workers.
Turkish president proposes 'conference call' with stakeholders for new constitution
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, in a quest to find new ways to create a new constitution, has proposed "conference calls" with as many people as possible to provide a strong ground for "societal agreement."
ISIL suicide bombers take order from 'Ebu Enes'
Two men who were detained on Dec. 30, 2015, on suspicions that they were going to detonate themselves on New Year's Eve in Ankara on behalf of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) were reportedly receiving orders from a man identified as "Ebu Enes," according to police.
GE wins Saudi power plant contract worth nearly $1 bln
General Electric announced on Dec. 31 that it had won a contract worth nearly $1 billion from the Saudi Electricity Company to build and supply a power plant in northern Saudi Arabia.
Under the contract, the U.S. industrial giant will build the Waad Al Shamal combined-cycle power plant and provide four advanced gas turbines, a steam turbine and turbine maintenance services.
State to take 99 liras of its 110-lira of minimum wage support in taxes
The Turkish state has announced it would give employers 110 Turkish Liras per employee to decrease the burden of the minimum wage raise, while it will also tax around 99 liras per employee, in effect only slightly decreasing businesses' burden.
Russian sanctions against Turkey take effect
Russia's economic sanctions against Turkey, announced in late November, came into force on January 1.
The sanctions include a ban on imports of Turkish fruits and vegetables, as well as the reintroduction of visas for Turkish citizens.
Turkish PM vows 'advanced democracy' with new constitution in New Year message
Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu has expressed hope for a better future for Turkey in 2016, saying his government is working toward a new constitution that will bring "advanced democracy" to the country.
"We will hopefully crown our success - which has been continuing since 2002 - with a new constitution," Davuto?lu stated in a New Year message issued late on Dec. 31.
Man detained after Ukrainian tourist harassed amid New Year celebrations in central Istanbul
A Ukrainian tourist walking down Istanbul's central ?stiklal Avenue was chased and harassed during New Year celebrations early on Jan. 1, until plainclothes police officers on the street detained the harasser.
Thousands stranded in Istanbul airports as more flights cancelled
Thousands of passengers were stranded on Jan. 1 in Istanbul's two main airports due to continuous heavy snowfall, adding to the cancelation of around 300 scheduled flights on Dec. 31, 2015.
"We have been waiting for two days. There are some 400 people here. If they notified us 24 hours before we would have adjusted our plans," a passenger named Ahmet Arslan told Do?an News Agency.
Three snow removal workers killed in New Year car crash on Istanbul highway
Three workers were killed after a driver crashed into a snow removal team clearing the road on the main highway to Istanbul early on Jan. 1.
The accident took place at 7 a.m. near the Ümraniye district on Istanbul's Asian side.
A driver crashed into the snow removal team alongside snow ploughing vehicles after losing control in the icy conditions.
One policeman killed in PKK attack in Turkey's southeast
One policeman was killed and five others were injured during a counter-terrorism operation targeting outlawed PKK militants in the southeastern province of ??rnak on Dec. 31, 2015.
Security forces were conducting operations to fill in ditches and dissemble barricades in the Cizre district, which is under curfew, security sources said.
Science body starts to strengthen cyber security after week-long attack
Turkey's top science body has launched a comprehensive project to strengthen the country's cyber security after a week-long cyberattack that targeted hundreds of thousands of Turkish websites.
Six major problems ahead of Turkey in 2016
2015 has been a problematic year for Turkey both in domestic and international politics. Two general elections, the changing mood of the Kurdish problem and the spillover of Syrian war in the form of jihadi terrorism were major problems inside Turkey. The Syrian war with the worsening situation with the downing of the Russian plane, the changing nature of the fight in cooperation with the U.S.