Edirne

Foreign tourist arrivals in Türkiye increased nearly 24 percent in January-May from a year ago to more than 14 million, the Tourism and Culture Ministry has said.

Including Turkish citizens residing abroad, the number of tourists visiting Türkiye stood at 15.6 million.

Russians constituted the largest group of foreign tourists, showed the data the ministry released on June 23.

As seen every year with the arrival of spring, Bayır Creek, an irrigation canal drawing water from the Tunca River in the country's northwest, has turned green once again due to pollution, with annoyed locals complaining about the awful smell coming from the canal.

Turkish dishes are being promoted in a series of events held across the county and at diplomatic missions during "Turkish Cuisine Week."

With cold weather spell continuing to grip the western parts of Türkiye, the Turkish State Meteorological Service has issued a "yellow alert" for 12 provinces that are likely to witness storms and thundershowers.

The much-awaited Kakava festivities have begun in the northwestern province of Edirne, as visitors throng the region to soak in the exuberant atmosphere full of activities such as dancing around the Kakava bonfire marking the arrival of spring, listening to folktales and firewalking.

After a brief period of sunshine and warm weather, the temperature in the northern and central parts of the country is likely to decline again starting April 26, with particularly western provinces of Türkiye to witness a sharp temperature drop, the Turkish State Meteorology Service has announced.

Precipitation will continue to stay in effect throughout the week in the country.

Holiday bookings have started to pick up at the end of March after both local and foreign holidaymakers either delayed or cancelled travel plans in the wake of the devastating earthquakes in early February.

Türkiye is experiencing the driest winter in 22 years and a water crisis is looming in the summer, according to experts.

Even though March 22 is known as World Water Day, many parts of Türkiye are experiencing extraordinary drought. With the decrease in winter precipitation, dams have started to dry up.

The locals of the village of Çamlıca in the northwestern province of Edirne's Keşan district celebrated the Halloween-like horror festival of Bocuk late on Jan. 28, wearing scary dresses and make up.

Some 14 people with ties to FETÖ, the group behind the 2016 defeated coup in Türkiye, have been nabbed in simultaneous operations in the capital Ankara and the western province of Manisa.