Latest News from Turkey

EU Parliament approves amendment for sanctions against Turkey

The European Parliament adopted on Thursday an amendment to a resolution on the Cypriot coastal town of Varosha, calling on the European Council to impose sanctions on Turkey over the partial reopening of the town, which violates UN Security Council resolutions.

Turkish president welcomes Qatari emir in Ankara

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Nov. 26 welcomed Qatar's Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani with an official ceremony in the capital Ankara.

Al Thani arrived in Ankara to attend the sixth meeting of the Turkey-Qatar Supreme Strategic Committee.

He was welcomed by a ceremony at the presidential complex, and the two leaders met one-to-one following the event.

Turkey Hands Down Aggravated Life Sentences for 2016 Plotters

Arrested soldiers who participated in the 2016 attempted coup are accompanied by Turkish soldiers as they arrive at the court in Sincan Prison before trial in Ankara, August 1, 2017. Photo: EPA/TUMAY BERKIN

Akinci Air Base in Ankara was the headquarters of the plotters and the operations of the abortive coup attempt were managed there, including air strikes on civilians.

French Senate’s resolution on Nagorno Karabakh disregards international law: Turkish Foreign Ministry

The French Senate's vote to urge its government to recognize Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent republic disregards international law, Turkey said on Nov. 26, noting that Ankara rejects the resolution.

Turkey inks contract for 50 million doses of Chinese vaccine

Turkey has signed a contract to buy 50 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from China's Sinovac Biotech, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca has said.

Turkey has a deal for 50 million doses of China's Sinovac vaccine that will be delivered in December, January, and February, according to the minister.

Turkish tourism sector may shrink 70% due to pandemic: Minister

Turkey's tourism sector will likely shrink 70% this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, the country's culture and tourism minister said on Nov. 26.

"It looks like we will end 2020 with slightly over $11 billion in tourism revenues and over 15 million travelers," Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said in an online session of the 10th International Resort Tourism Congress.

Coup plotters receive aggravated life sentences

Turkish court jailed 337 former pilots and other suspects for life in one of the largest trials stemming from the bloody 2016 coup attempt against President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Turkish Central Bank raises swap auction limit

The Turkish Central Bank on Nov. 26 increased its lira swap sale limits from 50% to 60%.

The bank raised the swap auctions limit in the Turkish Lira Swap Market for Foreign Exchange, according to information received by Anadolu Agency.

Previously, the bank had increased the limit from 40% to 50% in May.

The limit has been increasing gradually since last April from 20%.

Women raise voice to end domestic violence on international day

Women across Turkey marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on Nov. 25, highlighting that 354 women have been killed so far since the start of the year and how the pandemic conditions had left many trapped with their abusers at home.

Foreign Fishermen Keep Albania’s Fleet Afloat

Ebif is not alone. More than hundred other foreigners like him have found work on the country's small fishing fleet, whose owners say local youngsters are unwilling to engage in the profession.

Mostly from Egypt and Turkey, they tend to replace the local fishermen when they retire.

EU-goslavia, headed by Belgrade?

Explaining this thought, he said the Western Balkans could become a new multiethnic entity made up of "six states", closely linked to the EU, headed by Belgrade.

Infections rise as Turkey resumes publishing all positive virus cases

The number of daily reported COVID-19 infections in Turkey jumped to above 28,000 on Nov. 25 after, in a surprise development, the government resumed publishing all positive cases and not just the number of patients being treated for symptoms of the coronavirus.