Turkey

Turkish state-owned banks have started accepting applications for personal loans up to 10,000 Turkish Liras (nearly $1,500) online and via phones on April 1.

The Turkish and Russian presidents on April 1 discussed over phone ways to combat the novel coronavirus, according to an official statement.

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Vladimir Putin also discussed bilateral relations and regional issues, Turkey's Communication Directorate said.

Authorities are considering additional measures to curb intercity travel particularly in the country's three largest cities, Istanbul, Ankara and İzmir, in the face of the threat the coronavirus may spread from the populous provinces towards towns in other parts of Turkey.

Turkey's new Transport and Infrastructure Minister Adil Karaismailoğlu on March 31 took oath in the parliament.

His predecessor Mehmet Cahit Turhan was dismissed on March 25.

Karaismailoğlu, born in 1969, was the deputy minister of transport and infrastructure.

He graduated from Karadeniz Technical University's mechanical engineering department.

The Head of State has initiated a national solidarity campaign

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced that he is donating 7 monthly salaries to help fight COVID-19.

In doing so, the Head of State became the initiator of a national solidarity campaign, which he addressed to the nation.

Straight on the heels of Turkey's effort to have thousands of migrants violently violently cross over to Greece at the Evros land border, Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias deconstrructs Ankara's communications effort to blame Greece for the plight of these migrants which it bused to the border, of whom only 10 percent were refugees and the rest economic migrants.

Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Turkish authorities on Friday evacuated hundreds of migrants from Turkey's land border with Greece. 

The migrants were among an estimated 10,000 that had gathered at the border hoping to cross into Greece and Europe after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government had said last month it would not prevent them from leaving.

Turkish authorities have evacuated thousands of migrants who had been waiting at the border with Greece hoping to make their way into Europe, as a precaution amid the coronavirus pandemic, Turkey's interior minister said on March 27.

There was no letup in the tension in the Aegean Sea Thursday as Turkish fighter jets conducted overflights above the islands of Chios, Oinousses, Panagia and Lesvos.

Similarly, on Wednesday, Turkish jets flew over Lesvos and the Evros land border.

Turkey's revenue in tolls reached 375.8 million Turkish Liras (some $62.8 million) during January-February, according to official figures on March 27.