Latest News from Turkey

Gojkovic to attend Conference of EU parliament speakers

BELGRADE - The two-day Conference of parliament speakers of EU member countries which will gather parliament speakers of EU member countries will begin in Rome on Monday and it will be attended by Serbian Parliament Speaker Maja Gojkovic, her cabinet announced.

Spanish couple suspected of joining ISIL detained in Istanbul

A Spanish couple allegedly trying to cross into Syria to join the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) was taken into custody in Istanbul on April 18, according to police officials.

Spain had issued a "red notice" for Ahmad Debza, 33, and his wife, Nadia Fernandez Ataich, 27, both of Moroccan origin, Istanbul police officials said.

Russia Denies Reports of EUR 5 B 'Upcoming Deal' with Greece

Moscow has not proposed to Athens to make advanced payment for the construction of a "Greek leg" of the so-called "TUrkish Stream" pipeline, the Kremlin says.

Newsweek: Iron Curtain Back in Bulgaria, Migrants Face Brutality

"The Iron Curtain is back... It stretches along part of the Bulgarian and Greek frontiers with Turkey," an article published by Newsweek argues.

Turkish scholars launch petition against possible Minecraft ban

Turkey's leading academics on game studies have launched a petition against the Family and Social Policies Ministry's controversial initiative to ban Minecraft, a popular videogame.

"Computer games cannot be reviewed as if they are bonzai," said the petition launched on change.org on April 18, referring to a synthetic illegal drug.

Greece poised to sign gas deal with Russia, says German weekly

By Noah Barkin and George Georgiopoulos

Greece is poised to sign a gas deal with Russia as early as Tuesday which could bring 3-5 billion euros into depleted government coffers, German magazine Der Spiegel reported, citing a senior figure in the ruling SYRIZA party.

Turkish PM Davuto?lu endorses meritocracy over nepotism

In an apparent response to the opposition's rekindled accusations of nepotism, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu has endorsed meritocracy.

Russia gas deal would not solve Greece's problems, says Schaeuble

By Gernot Heller

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said on Saturday he was happy over a report that Greece was poised to sign a gas deal with Russia, though he added it would not solve the cash-strapped euro zone nation's economic problems.

Turkey asks for investigation into Greek mosque attacks

The Turkish Foreign Ministry has asked Greece to investigate the vandalism of two mosques in Komotini following incidents on Friday.

?Turkey requests Greek authorities to clarify as soon as possible the reason for these atrocious events, which occurred in sacred places? for the Muslim minority in Thrace, a statement said on Saturday, according to the Anadolu Agency.

US Calls for Greek Reforms as Athens Nears Energy Deal with Russia

US President Barack Obama called on Greece to carry out reforms in order to secure further bailout from its international creditors.

Obama urged Greece to initiate reforms, collect taxes, reduce bureaucracy and introduce more flexible labour practices, daily Kathimerini reports.

Greek protesters attack police, Turks put out fire

Greek protesters have thrown Molotov cocktails at police units in front of Turkey's consulate in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki, before Turkish staff put out the fire.

Protesting the recent detention of 14 anarchists, the group threw around a dozen Molotov cocktails at the police bus and the police booth located in the Hagios Demetrios district late April 17.

Foreign Ministry: Fire at Mosque in Komotini caused by short circuit

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Konstantinos Koutras made the following statement in response to journalists' questions on today's Turkish Foreign Ministry announcement no. 121, regarding the fire that broke out early on the morning of Friday, 17 April, in the courtyard of the Mahmud Aga Mosque in Komotini: