Latest News from Turkey

Syrians largest refugee group after Palestinians: UN

Syrians have overtaken Afghans as the largest refugee population aside from Palestinians, fleeing to more than 100 countries to escape war in their homeland, the United Nations said on Jan. 7.
   

Homage to a special man: Marc Groot

The irrepressible reality of death, no matter what the age, should ensure that everyone makes arrangements for the day when the end comes - particularly foreigners living in Turkey This should and could have been a nice and positive story, but sometimes Father Death gives an unwanted and unexpected turn to the day.

Hittite sculptures to be displayed at open-air museum

A site in the Central Anatolian province of Yozgat's Sorgun district, which the ancient Hittites had used as a sculpture atelier, will be reorganized as an open-air museum by Turkey's Culture and Tourism Ministry.

Syria is going to get worse and do you know why?

Syria?s ambassador to the United Nations, Bashar Jaafari, has written a letter to the U.N. Security Council, as reported by agencies on Jan. 5, in order to complain about some serious violations of the country's borders.

Don't celebrate New Year; but you can marry child girls!

Turkey?s leaders have the habit of chasing conspirators who they claim add fuel to Islamophobia in Europe. Those who ridicule the Islamic faith may not be the ones who conspire against Islam in faraway lands.

Why is Turkey falling behind in attracting FDI?

Turkey has a severe current account gap problem. The gap has recently decreased to 6 percent of the country's GDP, but this has mainly been caused by the plunge in oil prices. As Turkey is dependent on foreign sources in energy, its energy bill is now decreasing. But this is not the cure to the problem.

How the Dutch FM learned about the arrest of the Dutch journalist

I was at a lunch with the Foreign Minister of the Netherlands, Bert Koenders, along with two colleagues, at the residence of the Dutch Ambassador to Turkey, Ron Keller, when news broke about the detention of Dutch journalist Frederike Geerdink in Diyarbak?r. 

Alevis to hold massive rally on Feb 8 in Istanbul

Several leading Alevis associations have decided to hold a large rally in Istanbul on Feb. 8.

The decision to hold the rally was made in a meeting of the Alevi Bekta?i Federation, the Alevi Foundations Federation, and the Alevi Associations Federation, under the title "Alevi Unity Solidarity Meeting" in Istanbul on Jan. 4.

Suicider Blows Herself in Istanbul, Police Officer Killed

A female suicide bomber blew herself in Istanbul, killing one police officer and injuring another on Tuesday.

The target of the suicider was a police station in the tourist area Sultanahmet, near the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia museum, the BBC reports.

Barbaros returns to Cyprus EEZ, denting hopes for talks

Turkish-Cypriot officials said Tuesday that the Barbaros seismic research vessel was returning to Cyprus?s Exclusive Economic Zone, where Nicosia is currently drilling for hydrocarbons.

They said that a new maritime order, or Navtex, declaring Turkish authorities? intentions for the Barbaros to remain in Cyprus?s EEZ until at least April 6, had been issued.

Latvia favors "policy of conditionality" toward EU hopefuls

Latvia favors "policy of conditionality" toward EU hopefuls

BRUSSELS -- Latvia will during its presidency of the EU pursue an enlargement policy based on "the principle of conditionality," reads the country's program.

Heritage fair to be held in February

Heritage 2015 "Restoration, Archeology and Museum Technologies" fair and conferences will be held between Feb. 5 and 7 in Turkey.

Borsa Istanbul ranks among top 5 stock markets

Turkey's main stock exchange, Borsa Istanbul, was ranked among the top five performers in the world in 2014, the exchange announced in a statement late on Jan. 5.

The BIST-100 Index was the best performing investment instrument based on its 2014 annual yields, with Borsa Istanbul investors gaining an average yield of 26.43 percent in 2014, said the statement.

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