Foreign Ministry

An explosion occurred on Jan. 12 in Istanbul's touristic Sultanahmet Square, killing 10 while wounding at least 15, Istanbul governor's office has said.

According to reports by private broadcaster CNN Türk, the explosion occurred by the obelisk of Theodosius in the touristic Sultanahmet Square in Istanbul's Fatih district. 

The Syrian conflict and its repercussions are set to dominate an annual gathering of Turkey's ambassadors that will be organized around the theme of "Crisis Management: Humanitarian Solutions."

Turkey will invite Egypt to the 13th Summit of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul on April 10-15, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Tanju Bilgiç said Jan. 8, in spite of the poor ties between Ankara and Cairo.

Sevil Erku?sevil.erkus@hurriyet.com.trA local British court has blocked a number of Turkish bank accounts, including those of Turkish diplomats in the country, over another court's decision taken by Greek Cypriots, spurring Ankara to launch diplomatic efforts against the court order on the grounds it was against the Vienna convent

Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias will meet at 12:00 today, 8 January, at the Foreign Ministry, with the President of DUI – the Albanian party that is a coalition partner in the government of FYROM – Ali Ahmeti, who will be accompanied by FYROM Deputy Prime Ministers Musa Xhaferi and Fatmir Besimi.

A working lunch will follow the meeting, according to a Foreign ministry’s announcement.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an has hosted delegations from the Bay?rbucak Turkmens and the Syrian Turkmen Assembly in separate meetings, while the United Nations' special envoy for Syria also paid a brief visit to the Turkish capital.

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Deputy Chair Ümit Özda? has accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an of conducting "Wahabi-Salafi policies" over recent tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran. 

Iran accused Jan. 7 the Saudi-led coalition battling Shiite rebels in Yemen of hitting its embassy there in an overnight airstrike, but the building bore no visible damage.

Bulgaria's largest private gas supplier Overgas wrote a letter to the European Commission in December voicing his suspicion that Russia is seeking to "reanimate the South Stream project", Brussels-based website EurActiv claims.

The international community on Wednesday condemned North Korea’s statement that it carried out successfully hydrogen bomb test.

The United Nations Security Council will hold an emergency meeting later due to the reported test.