Geography of Asia

Pope Francis named two Palestinian women as saints on May 17, in a ceremony in Saint Peter's Square just days after the Vatican formalised its de facto recognition of the State of Palestine.

The United States expressed "deep concern" May 17 after an Egyptian court sentenced deposed Islamist president Mohamed Morsi and more than 100 others to death for their role in a mass jailbreak during the 2011 uprising.

Since the 1980s, Turkey has transformed itself from a sleepy agricultural economy to a mid-tech industrial economy. 

Impressive? Yes. But it stopped there. Just have a look at the share of hi-tech products in Turkey?s exports. A lousy 4 percent, compared to the OECD average of around 18 percent. 

Russia?s foreign minister has urged the European Union to support the idea of a Moscow-backed pipeline that would bring natural gas across the Black Sea to Turkey and the rest of Europe.

Sergei Lavrov said on Friday the pipeline ? which could include Greece, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Hungary ? would bring ?energy stability? to Europe.

The Sabanci Foundation?s Turkey?s Changemakers Program continues in its 6th season to share the unique stories of extraordinary people who contribute to social development. The 15th and last Changemaker of the 6th season is Emre Day?o?lu.  

An operation was launched on May 15 in Istanbul and Ankara as a part of the investigation into the halting of Syria-bound National Intelligence Organization (M?T) trucks in January 2014.

Syrians started-up 32 percent of the total number of new companies established in Turkey by foreigners in the first four months of this year, according to data from the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB).

Mehmet Ali Akben has been appointed the president of Turkey?s banking regulator (BDDK), according to a posting in the Official Gazette on May 15.

The decision to appoint Akben was taken on March 30, according to the report, which did not specify why the announcement was made later. 

Nepalese rescuers on May 15 found three bodies near the wreckage of a US Marine helicopter that disappeared earlier this week while on a relief mission in the earthquake-hit Himalayan nation, officials said.

Nepal's Defense Secretary Iswori Poudyal gave no details about the nationalities of the victims. The helicopter was carrying six Marines and two Nepalese army soldiers.

Nearly 800 "boat people" were brought ashore in Indonesia on May 15 but other vessels crammed with migrants were sent back to sea despite a U.N. call to quickly rescue thousands set adrift in Southeast Asian waters.