Geography of Asia

Northern Iraq has become a popular new destination for criminal suspects fleeing Turkey, apparently taking over the mantle from their previous favorite, Turkish Cyprus.

Some 136 suspects charged with murder, rape, theft, smuggling, or drug trafficking, have recently escaped to northern Iraq, particularly the provinces of Zaho, Dohuk and Arbil.

Saudi Arabia has suspended operations at its embassy in Yemen and evacuated its staff because of the worsening situation in the capital Sanaa, controlled by a Shiite militia, the foreign ministry said Feb. 13.
      

President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an?s finest trick is to keep persuading people that it is always someone else?s fault. The latest ?crisis? around Turkey?s intelligence chief might be yet another example.

Turkish Cypriot Economy, Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Serdar Denkta? is fuming nowadays on two issues.

In 2012, the infant mortality rate in Turkey (for children under 1 year of age) was 0.12 percent. Between 2002 and 2012, child labor accounted for 2.6 percent of the labor force (UNICEF). In 2012, there were 893,000 children aged 6 to 17 in the labor force, and 16.6 percent of all children aged between 15 and 17 were employed.

The Turkish government is determined to eliminate the phrase ?minority? in social life, regardless of whether it exists in international legal documents, Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu has said at a gathering with opinion leaders from the country?s non-Muslim minorities.

Officials have confirmed Sereter Bat-Erdene was the son of former wrestler and Mongolian deputy Badmaanyambuugiin Bat-Erdene, while Sarengerel Dorilgjav was the daughter of Mongolian Justice Minister Cambii Dorilgjav. A young couple from Mongolia who were in Istanbul to spend Valentine's Day has drowned in the Bosphorus.

Turkey fully intends to proceed with the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) and the Southern Gas Corridor projects, Energy Minister Taner Y?ld?z said Feb. 12.

"These projects take advantage of Turkey's geographic position, and Turkey will use that advantage in favor of its neighbors and EU members," Y?ld?z said.

Nine officials from Turkey's Foreign Ministry resigned before the Feb. 10 deadline in order to run in the upcoming parliamentary elections, scheduled for June 7.

Turkey?s state subsidies and economic incentives are centered on a few cities and the existing system does not cover less developed cities, the Turkish Young Business Association (TÜG?AD) said in written statement Feb. 12.