Latest News from Turkey
Elçi murder must definitely be enlightened: CHP
The murder of Tahir Elçi, the head of the Diyarbak?r Bar Association, must be enlightened, the leader of the main opposition party has said, vowing they will closely follow the investigation.
EU-Turkey commitments to not just 'stay on paper'
The agreements reached at the recently held EU-Turkey summit will be implemented and not just "stay on paper," Turkish EU Minister Volkan Bozk?r has said.
"Measures will be taken so that the summit agreements do not stay on paper," Bozk?r told reporters in Ankara on Dec. 2, ahead of a working lunch with EU ambassadors in Brussels.
Russia claims that Turkey is involved in illegal oil trade with ISIS
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his family members are directly involved in illegal oil deliveries from Daesh oil fields (widely known as Islamic State) in Syria, according to Russia’s Defense Ministry.
Gun found in Istanbul courthouse toilet
A gun was found inside a toilet at a court in Istanbul's Kartal district on Dec. 1.
The weapon was found inside a black nylon bag by technical personnel who had been called to fix a breakdown in the men's bathroom on the ground floor of the court's B Block.
Turkey's first rhino arrives in Kocaeli after seven-hour travel
After a tough seven-day journey from Edinburgh, Turkey's first Indian rhino Samir has arrived in the Dar?ca Faruk Yalç?n Zoo and Botanical Park in the northwestern province of Kocaeli's Dar?ca district.
A female rhino will also be brought over next year for the seven-year-old, 3.5-ton Samir.
Turkish gov't 'not worried' about Russian trade sanctions, seeks alternative markets
Turkish officials have said they are not overly worried about Russian trade sanctions against Turkish goods, adding they are in search of alternative markets as the loss of the Russian market is not in intolerable amounts.
Four journalists face trial for 'insulting' Erdo?an
Three journalists from daily BirGün face up to four years in prison on charges of "insulting the Turkish president" while a columnist from daily Taraf has testified on the same charge.
Obama tells Erdo?an 'to close Syrian border'
U.S. President Barack Obama said he had spoken to his Turkish counterpart in Paris on the sidelines of a climate change conference about the need to close the border between Turkey and Syria, while Secretary of State John Kerry has said Erdo?an is "completely committed and ready to proceed" to help guarantee that the remaining portion of the border is closed.
New sales of VW cars down 2 pct in Germany in November
The number of new Volkswagen cars registered in Germany declined by 2 percent in November, but VW remained the biggest-selling brand in its home country, official data showed on Dec. 2.
EU yields under Turkey’s threat on opening its border to refugees
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s advisor Burhan Kuzu commented on his Twitter account about the refugee agreement achieved between the EU and Turkey pn November 29.
He stated that the EU yielded under Turkey’s threat to open its borders to refugees and decided to provide Turkey with financial support for the migrant crisis.
Argentine ex-leader Menem convicted, again
Argentine ex-president Carlos Menem was convicted on corruption charges on Dec. 1, but as with a previous arms trafficking sentence he will escape prison time thanks to his immunity as a senator.
Menem, Argentina's president from 1989 to 1999, was convicted of masterminding the illegal overpayment of high-ranking officials' salaries.
Ankara shuns Moscow's potential gas threat with Qatari accord
Turkey has been exploring new energy alternatives amid the ongoing diplomatic crisis with Russia, although officials continue to view any potential gas blockage by Russia as unlikely. In this vein, Turkey's gas grid BOTA?
Putin used to call me brave and bold: Erdo?an
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an has said Russian President Vladimir Putin used to call him "brave and bold," before the two countries' relations soured over Turkey's downing of a Russian fighter jet near the Syrian border on Nov. 24.
Russia's sanctions on Turkey 'against world trade agreement'
Russia's trade sanctions against Turkey are a violation of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), said a Turkish retired diplomat experienced in trade affairs, noting that the World Trade Organization could punish Moscow for its actions.
Russia's Lavrov says will not refuse to meet Turkish counterpart in Belgrade
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Dec. 2 that he would not refuse to meet his Turkish counterpart in Belgrade later this week.
Lavrov's comments were shown live on Russian television after a meeting with Cypriot Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides in Nicosia.
A meeting of the OSCE ministerial council in Belgrade, Serbia, is due to be held on Dec. 3-4.