An Istanbul court ordered the arrest of a soldier on Aug. 23 on charges of “insulting the legacy of Atatürk” through his social media posts.
Comment(s)8/23/2017
A local religious conservative foundation staged a protest in the Black Sea province of Sinop on Aug. 22, demanding the removal of a statue of Ancient Greek philosopher Diogenes.
A plan that would pave the way for far-flung construction on Istanbul’s Princes Islands “Adalar” has been presented to an Istanbul preservation board
Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu stated on Aug. 23 in Baghdad that he will tell the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) that its planned independence referendum is wrong
Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ has accused Turkey’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu of “fabricating” issues in order to smear the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), after the latter raised concerns that he would be jailed.
If no “negative developments” occur, the Mediterranean resort of Antalya will likely close this year with more than 10 million local and foreign tourists, Antalya Governor Münir Karaloğlu told state-run Anadolu Agency on Aug. 23.
Ankara has refuted recent criticism by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who accused Turkey of “misusing” Interpol while commenting on the release of a Turkish-origin German citizen in Spain
Turkey received over $4.9 billion in net foreign direct investment (FDI) during the first half of 2017, with the European Union being the top investor again, Economy Ministry data released on Aug. 22 revealed.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said Turkey will not allow the foundation of a Kurdish state on its southern border, reiterating earlier comments on the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its armed wing the People’s Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria.
The EU should change its Turkey strategy as it can longer “shrug” at Ankara’s behavior, European Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Hahn told Süddeutsche Zeitung in an interview published late on Aug. 21.
Turkish conglomerate Koç Group has bought a Falcon 8X business jet manufactured by the French Dassault Aviation, becoming one of the first buyers of the business jet featuring a longer range and improved wing design.
A transport vessel carrying a total of 10 ships on board traversed through Istanbul’s Bosphorus Strait on Aug. 23.
DIPLOMACY
ANKARA
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu is set to pay an official visit to the Iraqi capital of Baghdad on Aug. 23, on the same day as U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis is set to visit Turkey
Comment(s) 8/22/2017
BUSINESS
The government and unions have come to an agreement over a salary rise offer for millions of civil servants and retired civil servants in Turkey, covering 2018 and 2019
BELGRADE - Anadolu Agency
Turkey and Serbia signed a trade agreement on agriculture on Aug. 22, the first since 2011.
BERLIN
German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said on Aug. 21 that Berlin and the rest of Europe should support the “democratically minded” majority of Turks who do not back President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in a dramatic hardening of Germany’s position towards Ankara.
ANTALYA
The Mediterranean resort of Antalya, Turkey’s leading tomato producer, made $88.3 million from tomato exports to 46 countries in the first 7.5 months of the year, according to data compiled by Anadolu Agency on Aug. 22.
ISTANBUL
Bayburt, a small province in the Black Sea region, witnessed the highest rate hike between 2000 and 2014, surpassing all other provinces in Turkey, including Istanbul, daily Habertürk reported on Aug. 22.
ARBIL
Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) President Masoud Barzani has said that a planned Sept. 25 referendum on independence is already being held late and cannot be postponed under “pretexts” from Iraq because “trust no longer exists between Arbil and Baghdad.”
Former Turkish international goalkeeper Ömer Çatkıç has been detained for alleged links to the network of Fethullah Gülen, the main suspect in the cases into last years’ coup attempt, while Ahmet Şan, the chairman of Turkish First Division club Konyaspor, has testified to prosecutors over similar allegations.
KONYA – Doğan News Agency
Police evacuated Syrians from their homes after one man was killed and an angry mob of hundreds of locals attacked the houses and workplaces of Syrian refugees in the Konya’s Karapınar district
Iraqi forces on Aug. 22 recaptured from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group the first two districts of jihadist bastion Tal Afar. Iraqi troops reached the first urban areas on the third day of a multi-pronged operation, said a military commander.
OPINION - all the columnists »
Meral Akşener, a former deputy speaker of the Turkish Parliament, stated on Aug. 22 that she has officially started the process of establishing a new party, in a bid to build an alternative to President Tayyip Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Parti).
There was big chaos and a power struggle in the Turkish airspace on the night of the July 15, 2016, coup attempt.
An incredible controversy about Cyprus is spreading between Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot state.
The executive board chairman of the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜSİAD), Erol Bilecik, has drawn attention to slackness in Turkey’s STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) system.
As a white, non-Hispanic American, it is easy to dismiss Confederate flag-bearing citizens as simply distasteful, speaking with no more than a “shame on you” rebuke behind their backs.
Before departing for his visit to Jordan on Aug. 21, President Tayyip Erdoğan said Turkey and Iran could soon carry out joint military operations against “terrorist organizations” in Iraq.
Comment(s)8/22/2017
As peace talks between the supposedly most pro-solution leaders of the divided island of Cyprus have collapsed; the answer to “what now” lingers in the air.
I was asked recently by a western media outlet whether it was conceivable that main opposition Republican Peoples Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu could be arrested, on charges ranging anywhere from treason to aiding and abetting terrorism.
Turkish Greco-Roman wrestler Rıza Kayaalp became the second Turk this week to win gold at the World Championships in Paris, beating Estonia’s Heiki Nabi in the 130-kilogram category final on Aug. 22.
After waiting for 12 years, five columns of the Temple of Apollo were restored and irons that came to the surface were covered with concrete
The relief of Hittite King Maradas, unearthed in Aslantepe Mound in the eastern province of Malatya in 1891, is on display at the Louvre Museum in Paris. State officials in Malatya have initiated works for the return of the artifact
Grunge veterans the Foo Fighters are channelling their inner Rick Astley with a bold new record the American rockers describe as their “weirdest” yet.
One of the notable festivals in Turkey, the Zeytinli Rock Festival, kicks off today in Zeytinli in the northwestern province of Balıkesir’s Edremit district.
Sky-gazers stood transfixed across North America Monday as the Sun vanished behind the Moon in a rare total eclipse that swept the continent coast-to-coast for the first time in nearly a century.
A koala at an Australian zoo has given birth to a rare white joey, staff announced on Aug. 22.
Hundreds of bottles that are believed to have been used for perfume in the ancient ages have been unearthed in Şanlıurfa’s ancient city of Harran
Turkish Greco-Roman wrestler Metehan Başar beat Germany’s Denis Maksymilian Kudla in the 85-kg category final at the 2017 World Championships on Aug. 21 to claim the gold medal.