Latest News from Turkey
CHP calls on the gov't to work together in 2016 to end pessimism
The Republican People's Party (CHP) has suggested joint work with the government to immediately solve problems such as democratization, foreign policy, education, the economy and the Kurdish issue instead of waiting for a push from the European Union.
Propaganda wars
So, after all, construction has become a new method of military strategy. This week, the Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) leading newspaper, Star, called the Public Housing and Construction Administration (TOK?), for the anti-outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) campaign in Turkey's southeast towns and villages.
Winter season opens in Bulgaria
While Turkey is experiencing problems with all of it neighbors, for now and God-willing, the springtime continues in the relations between us and our neighbor Bulgaria.
These are the words of the head of the Rumelia Balkan Strategic research Center (RUBASAM) Özcan Pehlivano?lu.
Thousands march to reach southeastern town under curfew
Around 2,000 people have begun marching to the southeastern town of Cizre, which has been under curfew for more than a week, amid ongoing military operations against outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants in several southeastern towns under curfew.
Turkish forces far from partially withdrawing: Iraq Defense Ministry
The Iraq Defense Ministry has said Turkish troops stationed in northern Iraq, which led to a crisis to erupt between the two countries, are far from being pulled out, despite Turkey's promises to withdraw the additional troops stationed at the camp on Dec. 4.
Belgium charges 9th Paris attacks suspect
The Belgian authorities have charged a ninth person in connection with last month's deadly Paris attacks, the prosecutor's office said Dec. 24.
A spokesman said the suspect had telephoned Hasna Aitboulachen, the cousin of ringleader Abdelhamid Abaaoud, several times after the Nov. 13 attacks and before a police raid five days later in which they both died.
Iraq to cut Turkish cooking oil imports due political tensions
Iraq plans to reduce government imports of cooking oil from Turkey due to political tensions between the two countries, according to a trade ministry official and the newspaper al-Bayina al-Jadida.
A trade ministry spokesman said the administration will gradually cut imports of Turkish cooking oil that it supplies for free to the population under a food rationing program.
The purest of digital arts at Akbank Sanat
Akbank Sanat is focusing on the purest state of the digital arts in a new exhibition titled "Monochrome."
K-9 police dog use surges in Turkey
Turkey's first cynology conference has revealed that the use of K-9 unit police dogs has surged in the country due the recent increase in security operations and terror threats.
Osman Öztürk, head of CSG-City Security Group, a private security company, said at the Istanbul event on Dec. 23 the need for specially-trained dogs was "increasing day-by-day."
Bulgaria's DPS Party Expels Chairman Lyutvi Mestan
Lyutvi Mestan has been dismissed as chairman of Bulgaria's DPS party, bTV reported on Thursday.
Mestan has also been expelled from the DPS' parliamentary group and from the party, bTV quoted a DPS spokeswoman as saying following an urgently convened ad-hoc meeting of the party's Central Council.
ODTÜ rector refutes minister's accusations over cyberattack
Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ) rector Prof. Ahmet Acar has refuted claims by Turkish Transportation Minister Binali Y?ld?r?m over the recent cyberattack targeting websites with the extension ".tr," saying the university took necessary measures during the cyberattack, which he defined as "one of the most intensive" attacks of its kind ever seen.
British airlines cancel more Sharm el-Sheikh flights
A string of British airlines have again delayed the resumption of regular flights to the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh following a plane crash earlier this year.
The airlines first suspended flights after the crash of a Russian airliner near the Red Sea holiday destination on Oct. 31 in which all 224 people on board died.
Russian crisis to have 'limited' impact on Turkey's trade
Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet ?im?ek said souring relations with Moscow after Turkey shot down a Russian warplane last month had not had a serious impact on trade and was unlikely to do so.
"We do not anticipate a lasting, significant impact on foreign trade. If there is one, it will be limited," he told Reuters in an interview.
Russia authorizes several companies to employ Turkish nationals
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has signed a decree with a list of companies that will be permitted to employ Turkish nationals after Jan. 1, 2016, as part of a new sanction package against Turkey.
Turkish tourism sector to launch Euro campaign to overcome Russian losses
Turkish tourism sector players expecting a continued decline in the number of Russian tourists visiting Turkey in 2016 unless the current diplomatic crisis between the two countries is resolved will launch a promotional campaign in Europe under the leadership of the Tourism Ministry to overcome the potential losses, according to a leading sector representative.