Latest News from Turkey

Switzerland hits VW cars with registration ban, France opens probe

The Swiss Federal Roads Office on Oct. 2 issued a preliminary ban on registering new Volkswagen diesel vehicles that may be outfitted with software designed to cheat emissions tests, it said in a statement.

Erdo?an urges public, private sectors to invest jointly

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an has called for public-private partnerships for much-needed infrastructure investment across the world.

Speaking on Oct. 2 at the G-20 energy ministers? conference in Istanbul, Erdo?an asked the private sector to cooperate ?hand in hand? with the public sector.

Four billion people remain remain without Internet globally

Some 92 percent of the world's population lives in areas where a connection service of 2G or better is accessible, but four billion people still remain offline, according to a recent report.

Turkish Central Bank's forex reserves decrease to three-year low

The Turkish Central Bank?s gross foreign currency reserves have decreased to below $100 billion for the first time since 2012.

Licenses required for two lines of Turkish Stream project: Russian energy minister

Russia requires construction licenses for at least two lines of the proposed Turkish Stream pipeline project, Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Oct. 2.

The Turkish Stream pipeline replaces the cancelled South Stream project to carry Russian gas to Europe and Turkey via the Black Sea. At the moment, Europe gets a lot of its gas from Russia through Ukraine.

Turkish PM thanked PYD during relocation of Ottoman tomb: HDP's Önder

Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu thanked the Syrian Democratic Union Party (PYD) for its part in the relocation of the tomb of Süleyman ?ah from Syria to Turkey earlier this year, Peoples? Democratic Party (HDP) Ankara Deputy S?rr? Süreyya Önder has said, countering government claims that Ankara performed the move unilaterally.

At least 44 detained in latest Istanbul 'anti-terror' operation

At least 44 suspects, including local heads of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), were detained in a pre-dawn "anti-terror" police operation in Istanbul on Oct. 2.

Authorization crisis erupts over pipeline carrying fresh water to Turkish Cyprus

As fresh water comes closer to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) from the Turkish province of Mersin through the Northern Cyprus Water Supply project for a first time, a crisis has erupted over which authority will manage the pipeline. Unless the crisis is resolved, fresh water flowing to TRNC will run the risk of being cut, according to sources close to matter.

Turkey accuses Russia of hitting Syria rebels to bolster regime

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu on Oct.2 accused Russia of targeting moderate Syrian rebels in its air strikes in Syria to prop up the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

CHP backs AKP vice chairman on debate on moving polling stations

Justice and Development Party (AKP) Vice Chairman Mehmet Ali ?ahin's suggestion that Turkey's Supreme Election Board (YSK) does not have the authority to move polling stations is correct, Republican People's Party (CHP) Secretary-General Gürsel Tekin has said.