Latest News from Turkey

Changes to state support for private theaters trigger angry debate

The Culture and Tourism Ministry's committee to support private theaters in Turkey has stirred controversy with proposed changes to funding methods for the new season, with critics saying the move attempts to punish dissident theater houses.

Entire district on Turkish-Syrian border with 78,000 inhabitants to be sold off

In an unprecedented move, almost an entire district in southeastern Turkey bordering Syria is set to be sold to private investors, as part of a new "urban transformation and development" project.

EU warns Turkey over LGBTI protection

The European Union has warned Turkey over the dangers posed to minorities and vulnerable groups in the country, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people.

Turkey restarts buying of Iraqi oil, says energy minister

The Turkish Petroleum Refineries Corporation (TÜPRAŞ) has bought 520,000 barrels of oil brought to market by the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) in Iraq, Turkish Energy Minister Taner Yıldız said late on Dec. 11.

Greek gov't, opposition condemn gun attack on Israeli embassy

The Greek government condemned on Friday as a "terrorist assault on democracy" a night-time gun attack on the Israeli embassy in Athens that saw the building sprayed with gunfire but no one hurt.

Clear-cut for Istanbul forest park stirs debate

Trees are being felled in Istanbul's Beykoz district in order to make room for facilities as part of a giant forest park project conducted by the Forestry and Waterworks Ministry.

Conference on 150th year of the Circassian exile to take place

The Federation of the Caucasian Associations in Turkey (KAF-FED) will hold a conference on the 150th anniversary of the Circassian exile in Ankara on Dec. 13-14, within the scope of Human Rights week.

Turkish imam joins ISIL in Syria, deputy PM confirms

An imam who worked at a mosque in the Çanakkale province of northwestern Turkey has joined the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), daily Taraf quoted Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç as saying on Dec. 12, adding that the imam has been removed from his post.

Greece condemns gun attack on Israeli embassy

The Greek government condemned on Dec. 12 as a "terrorist assault on democracy" a night-time gun attack on the Isreali embassy in Athens that saw the building sprayed with gunfire but no one hurt.

Venizelos meets Turkish counterpart in Thessaloniki

Greek Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos on Friday met with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu who proposed that the two meet with Nicos Anastasiades after the Cypriot President returns to the island, Kathimerini understands.

Albania and Bosnia Lag in Europe GDP Table

Albania has the lowest Gross Domestic Product, GDP, per capita and the lowest Actual Individual Consumption, AIC, of 37 European countries, according to a report by the EU statistics agency Eurostat.

The research covered all EU member states, plus Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Albania, Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Montenegro, Bosnia and Albania.

Twitter whistleblower’s claims on police raids against Gülenists cause stir

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister BÃ¼lent ArÄ±nÃ§ has said rumors voiced by a mysterious Twitter user named âFuat Avni,â over the potential detention of dozens of journalists known to have been close to the U.S.-based preacher Fethullah GÃ¼len, should be taken âseriously.â