Turkey welcomes French annulment of "genocide" bill
ANKARA, Feb. 28– Turkey on Tuesday welcomed the annulment by the Constitutional Council of France of a law that would incriminate people who deny the mass killing of the Armenians in 1915 was “genocide.” “We consider the annulment of the law as a step in line with freedom of expression and research, rule of law [...]
US general confirms defense shield radar site in Turkey
PODGORICA, Montenegro — U.S. forces are now manning a new radar defense site in Turkey that could help defend Europe from a potential Iranian ballistic-missile attack, the U.S. Army’s commander in Europe said Sunday. “We have the forces in place … at a radar site in southern Turkey,” Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling said in an [...]
Turkey’s Jewish narrative: tolerance and dark side
By CHRISTOPHER TORCHIA – 11 hours ago ISTANBUL (AP) — As Turkey welcomes Syrians fleeing violence, the anniversary Friday of the deaths of more than 750 Jewish refugees who were denied shelter by Turkey in World War II was a reminder of perennial tension between pragmatic and humanitarian impulses. The SS Struma, whose passengers fled [...]
Turkey, China set eyes on $100 bln in mutual trade
One of the largest buyers of Chinese products, Turkey has long complained about an imbalance in bilateral trade, seeking ways to attract as much foreign direct investment (FDI) from the Asian country as possible. Turkish ministers did not hesitate to use Wednesday’s Turkey-China Business Forum, which brought 200 Chinese businessmen together with their Turkish counterparts, [...]
Turkey Urged to Allow Greater Religious Freedom
The spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians said Monday that Turkey’s new constitution should grant equal rights to minorities in the country and safeguard religious freedoms. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I met with members of a parliamentary subcommittee seeking an all-party consensus in drawing up a new constitution, which will replace the one ratified in [...]
Preschooler’s turkey sandwich deemed unhealthy, given chicken nuggets instead
A North Carolina mother is upset because her preschooler’s homemade turkey sandwich was deemed unhealthy by school officials. Her daughter ate three chicken nuggets instead. Huh? Turns out the little girl attends a state school and her turkey and cheese sandwich, banana, potato chips, and apple juice did not meet U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines, [...]
Greek Cyprus, Israel draw closer, presenting challenges for Turkey
The one-day visit “was designed to strengthen the improving ties between the two nations,” according to officials from Netanyahu’s office, and the two sides will discuss cooperation in energy matters, agriculture, health and maritime research and sign a disaster relief and a search and rescue agreement. Greek Cypriot government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou told The Associated [...]
Huge soccer match-fixing trial begins in Turkey
ANKARA, Turkey – As thousands of loyal fans chanted their support, 93 suspects including the jailed president of Turkey’s top soccer team went on trial Tuesday in a match-fixing scandal that has upended Turkish soccer. Aziz Yildirim, head of the celebrated Fenerbahce soccer team, and the others have been charged in the scandal allegedly involving [...]
Turkey in flurry of diplomacy for Syria conference to end violence
He also conveyed Turkey’s position on a wide range of bilateral and regional issues with members of Congress and in his speeches to various think tanks. Davutoğlu announced last week that Turkey is considering delivering humanitarian aid to the people of Syria under the provisions of the United Nations Human Rights Commission, located in Geneva. [...]
Turkey and Iran diverge over Syria
(02-10) 00:21 PST ISTANBUL, (AP) – Turkey and Iran, regional heavyweights and heirs to imperial pasts, expanded trade in the past decade and papered over their traditional rivalry with diplomacy and rhetoric. Now these neighbors have staked out opposing positions in Syria, where outside players seek to sway an outcome to the bloodshed that could, [...]