Latest News from Turkey
Historic mosque near Tahir Elçi murder scene set on fire
A historic mosque near the murder scene of prominent lawyer Tahir Elçi in the southeastern province of Diyarbak?r has been set on fire during clashes between security forces and outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants.
Armenian-origin columnist fined for 'insulting' Ankara mayor
A local court in Ankara has ordered Turkish-Armenian journalist Hayko Ba?dat to pay 1,160 Turkish Liras for "insulting" Ankara Mayor Melih Gökçek, saying in its ruling Ba?dat had committed the crime under "provocation" by Gökçek, who made statements that "could be assumed as insulting" to the Armenian community.
Leader of world chess body steps down over alleged Syria links
The head of the World Chess Federation (FIDE), Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, has temporarily transferred most of his powers to his deputy after being added to a U.S. sanctions list for alleged ties to the Syrian regime, the organization said on Dec. 6.
Child marriages make up one third in Turkey
One third of marriages in Turkey involve underage girls, according to a women's rights lawyer speaking at a conference that was called to tackle the problem.
"There are 181,036 child brides in our country, unfortunately," ?zmir Bar Association Central Executive Board Member and women's rights advocate Nuriye Kadan said during the conference in ?zmir on Dec. 6.
Iraqi Kurdish leader Barzani to visit Turkey on Dec 9
Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) President Massoud Barzani will visit Turkey on Dec. 9, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavu?o?lu stated on Dec. 7.
NATO says it won't send ground troops to fight ISIL: Report
NATO has ruled out sending ground troops to fight against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants in Syria, NATO General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg told a Swiss newspaper, stressing the need to bolster local forces in the conflict.
Ankara to summon Moscow envoy over 'provocative' passing of Russian ships through Bosphorus
The Turkish Foreign Ministry is prepared to summon Russia's ambassador in Ankara on Dec. 7 in protest of the "provocative" passage of a Russian warship through the Bosphorus Strait, Turkish officials told Hürriyet Daily News.
Ankara summons Russian envoy over 'provocative' passing of Russian ship through Bosphorus
The Turkish Foreign Ministry summoned Russian ambassador in Ankara Andey Karlov on Dec. 7 in protest of the "provocative" passage of a Russian warship through Istanbul's Bosphorus Strait.
In his meeting with General Director Burak Özügergin, Ankara warned the Russian envoy over such "provocative acts," according to Turkish diplomatic sources.
Turkish Airlines cancels flights to Iraqi Kurdish region
Turkish Airlines has canceled some flights to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq due to the closure of airspace in the region, the company said in a statement on Dec. 7.
Some, but not all, flights on Dec. 7 and Dec. 8 to Arbil and Sulaymaniyah have been canceled, the statement said.
Turkey pulls 350 troops from border after tension with Baghdad
Turkey has pulled 350 troops back from the Turkish-Iraqi border after reaction from Baghdad over the deployment of more Turkish soldiers in Mosul.
The troops were waiting on the border and will be sent to Iraq if Ankara and Baghdad agreed on the issue, sources told Hürriyet Daily News.
Turkey has deployed nearly 600 troops to train Iraqi Sunni local guards in Mosul.
No forces to be deployed in Mosul until Baghdad's concerns are addressed: Turkish PM
Ankara would never take any step that would damage Iraq's sovereignty and territorial integrity, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu has said in a letter to his Iraqi counterpart, Haider al-Abadi, noting that Turkey would not deploy troops in the area until Baghdad's concerns are assuaged.
Turkey doesn't want to lose Russian tourists: Minister
Tourism Minister Mahir Ünal has said the main priority of Turkey's tourism sector is to not lose Russian tourists, and Ankara wants to ease current tensions with Moscow as soon as possible.
Ruling party hopes to combat rising divorce rates
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is hoping to stem Turkey's rising tide of divorces, as the new government's first action since retaining its parliamentary majority in the Nov. 1 general election.
Russian row may provide chance to restructure tourism sector
The political crisis with Russia will have serious consequences on the tourism sector, as Turkey will experience a drastic fall in the number of visiting Russian tourists.
Russian risk pressing Turkey's economy
Something that everybody managed to avoid during the Cold War has now happened. On Nov. 24, Turkey became the first NATO country to shoot down a Russian plane in 62 years. All of a sudden, Turkey became enemies with its most important neighbor and one of its biggest trade partners.