Latest News from Turkey
Iran says has duty to mediate in Turkey-Russia dispute
Iran said on Dec. 6 it was its "duty" to mediate between Russia and Turkey as they trade accusations of buying oil from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
'Guards of hope' support arrested Turkish journalists at gates of Istanbul prison
The "guard duty" established by Press Council High Commission member Do?an Satm?? and daily Cumhuriyet editorial consultant Mete Akyol in support of arrested Cumhuriyet journalists, at the gates of the prison where they are being held, continued into its fourth day on Dec. 6.
Turkish ice dancing pair leaves Russia, Russian coach
A figure skating pair competing for Turkey has been told to cut short a training program in Russia in the wake of a recent crisis between the two countries.
Russian coach Alexander Zhulin told Russia's "R-Sport" that the Turkish ice dancing duo of Alisa Agafonova and Alper Uçar left Russia on Dec. 5 upon a request from the Turkish Youth and Sports Ministry.
Turkish gov't commences prep work to launch Islamic banking coordination mechanism
Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet ?im?ek has said preparatory work to launch a coordination mechanism for Islamic banking in Turkey have started, and the related circular note has recently been sent to the Prime Ministry.
Turkey detains Russian ship at Samsun port in retaliatory move
Turkish authorities have refused to give a Russian ship permission to depart from Samsun Port due to a "lack of required documents" following similar action by Russia against Turkish ships at Novorossiysk Port.
Four Russian ships were initially denied permission to depart but three of them were subsequently granted permission after they met requirements.
Turkey, Iran in war of words over Syria
Senior Turkish and Iranian officials have engaged in a war of words over Syria, with each accusing each other of lending support to terrorist organizations in a row that parallels Ankara's ongoing tension with Moscow.
Moody's affirms Turkey's credit rating
Credit ratings agency Moody's affirmed Turkey's "Baa3" government debt and issuer ratings early on Dec. 5.
In a statement, Moody's said its confirmation of Turkey's ratings "reflects the country's economic resilience and strong fiscal metrics, which have been maintained through the long electoral cycle."
Bus and train crash in Indonesia kills 16
A collision between a commuter train and a minibus on a level crossing in the Indonesian capital Jakarta on Dec. 6 killed at least 16 people and injured several others, an official said.
"There were 24 people inside the minibus, 16 people died including the driver, the rest are still being treated at hospitals," Jakarta police spokesman Muhammad Iqbal told AFP.
Russian warship passes through Bosphorus as soldier on board carries missile
A Russian warship passed through Istanbul's Bosphorus en route to the Mediterranean on the morning of Dec. 6, with one soldier seen in footage holding a ground-to-air missile, private broadcaster NTV has reported.
The soldier held the missile on his shoulder in the shooting position during the passing of Russia's Caesar Kunikov warship.
Turkish FM slams Russia's missile 'provocation' in Bosphorus
A Russian warship passed through Istanbul's Bosphorus en route to the Mediterranean on the morning of Dec. 6. One soldier was seen in footage of the boat passing holding a ground-to-air missile, drawing an angry reaction from Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavu?o?lu.
Three security forces killed in latest PKK attacks in Turkey's southeast
Two soldiers and a policeman were killed in attacks carried out by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in Turkey's southeast on Dec. 5, security sources have said.
PKK militants shelled a car carrying soldiers in plain clothes with long-barreled weapons in ??rnak province's Cizre district, killing two soldiers and injuring two others.
Yemen's Aden governor killed in suicide car bombing: Residents, security sources
The governor of Yemen's Aden province Jaafar Mohammed Saad was killed on Dec. 6 when a suicide bomber rammed his car into the governor's convoy in the western part of Aden city, residents and a local official said.
ISIL says it killed Aden governor in car blast: Statement
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) claimed responsibility for an explosion which killed the governor of Yemen's southern Aden province on Dec. 6.
Erdogan Says It Was Turkey That Halted Turkish Stream
It was not Turkey but Russia who stopped preparation for the Turkish Stream gas pipeline project, the country's President said on Saturday.
Earlier this week, Moscow announced it was suspending work on Turkish Stream, calling on Ankara to clarify whether it was still interested in the project.
Turkey's Davutoglu to Visit Bulgaria on December 15
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is due to visit Bulgaria in mid-December to discuss border safety issues.
Davutoglu and his Bulgarian counterpart, Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov, will also talk about the latest EU-Turkey action plan adopted at a special summit in November.