Latest News from Turkey
Erdogan criticizes EU policies amid Gaza conflict
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned that policies enacted by "certain countries and institutions since the start of the Gaza conflict have shaken faith in the European Union."
In his address marking Europe Day, Erdogan underscored that these policies during the Gaza conflict have eroded trust in European values.
Israeli claims of Ankara easing trade ban 'fictional’: Minister
Turkish Trade Minister Ömer Bolat has dismissed Israeli claims of Türkiye easing its trade ban on Israel, labeling them as "absolutely fictional and disconnected from reality."
In a social media post on May 9, Bolat stressed that Türkiye will maintain the trade ban until a lasting ceasefire in Gaza is achieved and humanitarian aid is ensured to the war-torn Palestinian enclave.
Repeat Incident: Another Boeing Plane Makes Emergency Landing in Turkey with Landing Gear Malfunction
A passenger plane made a hair-raising landing "on its stomach" at Alanya airport in Turkey following a malfunction with its landing gear. This incident marks the second emergency landing in Turkey within a span of two days, intensifying concerns over aviation safety regarding Boeing.
Mali: Xi's visit opens new chapter of cooperation and Serbia's economic growth
BELGRADE - Besides being politically significant and boosting Serbia's reputation, Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Belgrade is very important economically as well and opens up new prospects for Serbia and a new chapter in its cooperation with China as well as its overall growth and development, Serbian Finance Minister Sinisa Mali said on Thursday.
Turkey's Central Bank Forecasts Inflation to Hit 75% Peak in May
Turkey's central bank finds itself grappling with the country's persistent inflationary turmoil, projecting that the crisis will culminate in May with rates skyrocketing to approximately 75-76%.
Turkey converts Chora into a mosque as USCIRF puts the spotlight on religious freedom
Earlier this week Turkey formally opened the monastery of Chora, a former Byzantine church and UNESCO World Heritage Site in Istanbul, as a mosque. The move follows the conversion of the Hagia Sophia into a mosque in 2020, and has drawn international criticism.
State Department makes statement over conversion of Chora church
The US Department of State is aware of Turkey's conversion of another historical Byzantine church into a mosque, and urges the government to "respect" the "diverse histories" of heritage sites that have hosted different religious communities.
PM: Channels with Turkey must stay open
Responding to calls that his scheduled visit to Ankara on Monday should be postponed due to the conversion of the Chora monastery in Istanbul into a mosque, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stressed on Wednesday that this would not be the correct course of action as "open channels must be maintained."
Archons strongly condemn Turkey’s decision to convert Chora Church
The Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate note with dismay and strongly condemn Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's decision to proceed with plans to convert the Monastery of Chora to a mosque.
"This is yet another contemptuous act against religious freedom perpetrated by the government of Turkey," the Archons said in a statement on Wednesday.
Greece disrupts sanctions busting oil transfers off its coast
Over the past two years an area south of Greece's Peloponnese had become a major location to circumvent sanctions against Russian oil exports. It looks like Greece has now found a way to disrupt these operations.
From the Baltic to the Aegean: Greece and the Three Seas Initiative
Over the past two years an area south of Greece's Peloponnese had become a major location to circumvent sanctions against Russian oil exports. It looks like Greece has now found a way to disrupt these operations - taking place in international waters - after the Greek navy blocked off the area for naval exercises.
PM says mosque conversion ‘completely unnecessary’
During his customary monthly briefing at the Presidential Mansion, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his dissatisfaction with the conversion of a former Byzantine church in Istanbul, the Monastery of Chora, into a mosque.
He pledged to raise the issue with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan during his visit to Ankara next Monday.
Balmy weather yields to storms and cooler temperatures
The balmy weather of recent days is giving way to storms and a drop in temperature in various parts of the country.
The weather began to turn on Wednesday night due to the arrival of a low-pressure front which started from the Gulf of Sirte in Libya.
It moved towards southwest Turkey and will affect the weather in Greece as well, according to the Meteo weather service.
Finance watchdog visited Turkey ahead of ‘grey list’ decision, sources say
A team from the Financial Action Task Force, an international crime watchdog that "grey-listed" Turkey in 2021, held meetings with Turkish authorities last week ahead of its highly-anticipated report on the country next month, two sources said.
SYRIZA condemns the conversion of the Monastery of Chora into mosque
Main opposition SYRIZA party condemned on Tuesday Turkey's decision to formally open a former Byzantine church in Istanbul as a mosque, while it also criticized the government's reaction as too soft.
"SYRIZA unequivocally condemns the Turkish authoritie's decision for the operation of the Monastery of Chora as Muslim mosque," the party said in a statement.