Turkey News

'Queer Olympix' banned in Istanbul

By AFP

Ankara - Authorities in Istanbul have banned the "Queer Olympix", organisers said Saturday, becoming the latest pro-LGBT event to be cancelled in Turkey.

Syria Kurds say will help implement US-Turkey 'safe zone'

By AFP

Tanriverdi - Syria's Kurds said on Saturday they would support the implementation of a US-Turkey deal to set up a buffer zone in their areas along the Turkish border.

US-Turkey Syria operations centre at full capacity: minister

By AFP

Ankara - A US-Turkey operations centre aimed at creating a safe zone in northern Syria is operating at "full capacity", Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said Saturday.

'Mum, don't die': Murder of Turkish woman ignites anger

By AFP

Ankara - The murder of a Turkish woman by her ex-husband in front of her daughter sparked outrage Friday after a video of the attack was published online."I don't want to die," Emine Bulut, covered in blood, is heard screaming to her 10-year-old child.

Turkey's Erdogan to visit Moscow after convoy hit in Syria

By AFP

Istanbul - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit Moscow on Tuesday for a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, the presidency said in a statement, days after a Turkish convoy was hit by an air strike in Syria.

Damascus forces surround Turkish army post: monitor

By AFP

Beirut - Syrian government forces surrounded a Turkish military observation post on Friday after overrunning nearby villages following their capture of a key northwestern town from jihadists, a war monitor said.

Turkish police block protests over sacking of pro-Kurdish mayors

By AFP

Diyarbakir - Turkish police on Wednesday blocked protests over the government's sacking of three mayors in the southeast accused of having links to Kurdish militants, an AFP correspondent said.

Anti-Assad fighters withdraw from key area of northwest Syria

By AFP

Jihadists and allied rebels withdrew from a key area of northwestern Syria Tuesday, a war monitor said, as President Bashar al-Assad's forces pressed an offensive against the jihadist-run Idlib region.

Anti-Assad fighters withdraw from key area of northwest Syria: monitor

By AFP

Beirut - Jihadists and allied rebels withdrew from a key area of northwestern Syria Tuesday as President Bashar al-Assad's forces pressed an offensive against the jihadist-run Idlib region, a war monitor said.

Tensions spike as Turkish convoy enters northwest Syria

By AFP

Damascus - A Turkish military convoy crossed into jihadist-run northwest Syria Monday, sending tensions soaring between Damascus and rebel-backer Ankara which said its forces were targeted with an air strike.

Damascus angered by Turkish army convoy heading for key Syria town

By AFP

Damascus - Damascus on Monday condemned the deployment of a Turkish military convoy towards a key town in northwestern Syria where regime forces are waging fierce battles with jihadists and rebels.

Turkey removes pro-Kurdish mayors

By AFP

Diyarbakir - The Turkish government removed three mayors from office on Monday over alleged links to Kurdish militants as Ankara deepened its crackdown on the opposition.

Turkish lawyers threaten boycott of Erdogan's courts ceremony

By AFP

Istanbul - Dozens of Turkish bar associations are threatening to boycott President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's planned ceremony to open the judicial year at the presidential palace, saying it would be another violation of the judiciary's independence.

Chinese Uighur refugee fears deportation from Turkey

By AFP

Istanbul - A Chinese Muslim refugee has told AFP he is terrified he may be sent back to China after being detained in a deportation centre near Istanbul for more than two months.

Damascus rejects Turkey-US plan, Kurds give guarded welcome

By AFP

Damascus - Damascus said Thursday it strongly rejects a proposed US-Turkish buffer zone for northern Syria, blaming the "aggressive" project on Syria's Kurds, who gave the proposal a guarded welcome.

Damascus rejects Turkey-US buffer zone plan: state media

By AFP

Damascus - Damascus said Thursday it rejects a US-Turkish plan to establish a buffer zone in northern Syria, blaming Syria's Kurds for the proposal, state media said.

Turkey lifts shutdown order on Bianet news site: lawyer

By AFP

Istanbul - Turkish authorities have lifted a closure order against independent news site Bianet after an outcry against a move the company's lawyer said Wednesday had been made "by mistake".

How likely are the Turks to attack northeast Syria?

By AFP

Beirut - After 18 months of threats, Turkey's president warned Tuesday that his troops could attack Kurdish-held areas of northeast Syria "very soon".

Syria Kurds warn of Turkish attack despite US mediation

By AFP

Kamishli - A top Kurdish political official in northeast Syria Monday warned neighbouring Turkey would attack at the first chance it got, despite US efforts to prevent a cross-border incursion.

Erdogan says will launch Syria operation east of Euphrates

By AFP

Ankara - Turkey will launch an operation in northern Syria to remove a Kurdish militia viewed as terrorists by Ankara, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed on Sunday.

US welcomes conditional truce in Syria's Idlib region

By AFP

Sydney - The United States Sunday welcomed a ceasefire in Syria's northwestern Idlib region after months of deadly government bombardments but insisted attacks against civilians must stop.

Erdogan lays stone for modern Turkey's first new church

By AFP

Ankara - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday laid the foundation stone for the first new church in Turkey since it became a modern republic in 1923.

Deported from Turkey, Syrians return to unfamiliar country

By AFP

Still reeling from his sudden deportation from Turkey with just the clothes on his back, Mohammad Hassan stood in the arrivals hall at a border crossing in northern Syria unsure what to do next."I left Syria seven years ago," said the 22-year-old.

Turkey's Erdogan faces new threat: former allies

By AFP

Ankara - Following losses in key cities this year, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan now risks losing more voters as former allies stick their head above the parapet and appear to be on the verge of creating new parties.

Freed pastor seeks pressure on Turkey for religious freedom

By AFP

Washington - A US pastor freed by Turkey after an intense campaign by Washington has called for greater international pressure on the country to promote religious freedom, which he said was in retreat.

Trump doesn't see sanctions 'right now' on Turkey

By AFP

Washington - US President Donald Trump said Thursday he was not considering economic sanctions "right now" on Turkey after its major weapons purchase from Russia."We're not looking at that right now," Trump told reporters.

Minibus with migrants overturns in Turkey killing 17

By AFP

Ankara - Seventeen people were killed and 50 wounded after a minibus carrying migrants overturned in eastern Turkey on Thursday, the private news agency DHA reported.

Trial resumes of Turkey opposition politician

By AFP

Istanbul - An opponent of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday rejected the charges against her during a trial described by her defenders as "revenge" for the opposition's success in Istanbul.

Death toll rises to 3 in attack on Turkish diplomat in Iraq

By AFP

Arbil - The death toll from Wednesday's attack on Turkish consular employees in Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region has risen to three after one victim died of his wounds, his family told AFP.

Death toll rises to 3 in attack on Turkish diplomat in Iraq

By AFP

Arbil - The death toll from Wednesday's attack on Turkish consular employees in Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region has risen to three after one victim died of his wounds, his family told AFP.