Latest News from Turkey
HSBC cutting ties with small Turkish businesses to focus on bigger players
British lender HSBC has begun to close the accounts of small local businesses in Turkey with the aim of focusing on customers with overseas interests.
The bank has started to call small companies to tell them the bank has decided to close the accounts of customers to whom it believes it cannot provide enough service.
I am focused on my job, not the prime ministry: Turkish FM Davutoğlu
Foreign Minister Ahmet DavutoÄlu has parried speculation about his possible assumption of the prime ministerâs post, saying he was focusing on his current job, particularly Palestine and Libya.
âNowadays, day and night, I try to do my job,â the minister said July 24 in a televised interview.
Turkey approves environmental report for South Stream pipeline
Turkey has given the green light to the Environmental Impact Assessment (ÃED) report for the section of the South Stream Offshore Pipeline that will cross the country.
The Turkish Environment and Urbanization Ministry has approved the ÃED report that oversees the potential impact of the project on nature, a statement released by South Stream has said.
US urges fair, transparent probe into detained Turkish police chiefs
Washington has again called for âfair, transparent and democraticâ investigations into more than 100 police officers and chiefs who have been detained after leading graft probes into government figures late last year.
Turkey may close embassy in Tripoli: Davutoğlu
Turkey has considered closing its embassy in Tripoli because of growing security concerns in the country, Foreign Minister Ahmet DavutoÄlu has said, adding that efforts to evacuate Turkish citizens in Libya were underway.
Turkey OKs South Stream Environmental Impact Assessment
Turkey's Ministry of Environment and Urbanization has approved the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the offshore section of the South Stream gas pipeline.
The clearance for the offshore stretch of the gas pipeline crossing the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Turkey was announced by the South Stream Transport company.
Kerry speaks to Turkish and Qatari counterparts to press for Gaza ceasefire
US Secretary of State John Kerry spoke July 24 to his counterparts in Qatar and Turkey, which support the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, as he pressed for a Gaza ceasefire.
Kerry -- who is in Egypt, which has drafted a truce proposal for the Israel-Hamas conflict -- spoke by phone with the foreign ministers of Qatar and Turkey, a US official said.
Turkish governor ramps up anti-Coca Cola protests against Israel (by drinking Fanta)
The governor of the western province of TekirdaÄ has joined the boycott of what is arguably the most popular soda drink in the world, Coca-Cola, over Israelâs latest military campaign in Gaza, tweeting a photo of himself posing with bottles of Fanta. Unfortunately for Governor Ali Yerlikaya, Fanta is also product of the Coca-Cola Company.
Locals sue first hydroelectric plant construction planned in center of Black Sea town
Hydroelectric plant (HES) projects that are spreading like fungus across Turkey, particularly in the eastern Black Sea provinces, continue to cause controversy, with locals of Artvin provinceâs Arhavi resorting to legal action to halt the first such plant planned in the center of the coastal town.
Turkey welcomes UN’s panel decision to probe Israel’s war crimes
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet DavutoÄlu has welcomed a U.N. Human Rights Council decision to investigate possible war crimes committed by Israel in Gaza, repeating his call upon Israel to stop its "inhumane attacks" in Gaza.
Do tomatoes dictate Turkey’s policy on Russia?
âThereâs never a dull moment in Turkeyâ: A cliché sentence I have heard so often from a newcomer to Turkey. Indeed, itâs a cliché, but it also reflects the truth.
‘Century’s Project’ for transporting water to Cyprus to be completed in Sept: AKP
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has said that the pipeline project that will transport water from Turkey to northern Cyprus via tunnels under the Mediterranean Sea will be completed shortly.
The AKPâs Ä°hsan Åener, who is in charge of promotion and media affairs, stated that the party expected the pipeline project to be completed and opened in September.
Hamas rejects Gaza truce despite Turkey's fresh bid
Ankara seeks to persuade Hamas to accept a truce in Gaza, with Turkish PM ErdoÄan personally assuming responsibility on the issue, but Khaled Meshaal says "We reject today... and will reject in the future"
Turkish housing sales rise after rate reduction
The Central Bankâs gradual rate reduction has put the brakes on a decrease in Turkish residential sales in June, reviving peopleâs mortgage appetite.
Housing sales in Turkey have been suffering since the beginning of the year after high interest rates and a weak Turkish Lira curbed demand in the market.
And then there’s Cyprus
Amid the burning problems of Iraq, Syria, Gaza, Ukraine, and others, surrounding Turkey, not many people noticed that this year marked the 40th anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation of July 20, 1974. Once described as the ânational issueâ in Turkey, it no longer occupies the center stage in public discussions.