Latest Turkey government News

Turkey's high-stakes mayoral races are expected to be close. Volunteer monitors will be key

Mar. 28, 2024 01:19 AM EDT

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — With local elections across Turkey days away, legal experts are coaching thousands of volunteer election monitors on the rules they'll need to watch for fraud and ensure a fair vote. The vote across Turkey’s 81 provinces Sunday will determine who controls...

Things to know about the Turkish local elections that will gauge Erdogan’s popularity

Mar. 26, 2024 01:40 AM EDT

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — On Sunday, millions of voters in Turkey head to the polls to elect mayors and administrators in local elections which will gauge President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s popularity as his ruling party tries to win back key cities it lost five years ago. A victory...

Turkish warplanes strike Kurdish militant positions in Iraq after attack kills soldier, wounds 4

Mar. 19, 2024 19:51 PM EDT

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey carried out a new round of airstrikes targeting Kurdish militants in neighboring Iraq on Tuesday, Turkey’s defense ministry said, hours after a Turkish soldier was killed and four others were wounded in an attack in the region. Turkey often launches...

Turkey's top diplomat visits Iraq and seeks support against Kurdish militant group

Mar. 14, 2024 18:01 PM EDT

BAGHDAD (AP) — Turkey’s top diplomat was in Baghdad for high-level meetings on Thursday, ahead of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's expected visit next month and a potential Turkish offensive against a Kurdish militant group that maintains bases in Iraq. The talks between Turkish...

Turkey's Erdogan offers to host a peace summit with Russia during a visit from Ukraine's Zelenskyy

Mar. 08, 2024 15:27 PM EST

ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose NATO-member country has sought to balance its close relations with both Ukraine and Russia, offered during a visit Friday from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to host a peace summit between the two countries. ...

Turkey struggles to stop violence against women. At least 71 have been killed this year

Mar. 07, 2024 11:35 AM EST

ISTANBUL (AP) — Muhterem Evcil was stabbed to death by her estranged husband at her workplace in Istanbul, where he had repeatedly harassed her in breach of a restraining order. The day before, authorities detained him for violating the order but let him go free after questioning. ...

Turkey and Somalia strike an oil and gas cooperation deal for the Horn of Africa nation

Mar. 07, 2024 11:22 AM EST

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey and Somalia reached an oil and gas cooperation agreement for the Horn of Africa nation in Istanbul on Thursday, the Turkish energy minister said, the latest step in strengthening ties between the two countries. The agreement comes against the backdrop...

Turkey detains 7 more people for allegedly selling information to Israel's spy agency

Mar. 05, 2024 05:32 AM EST

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkish police on Tuesday detained seven more people suspected of selling information to the Israeli spy agency Mossad, authorities said, the latest in a wave of such arrests in Turkey. The suspects were taken into custody during simultaneous raids in...

Turkey rejects accusations by a human rights group that it committed abuses in Syria

Mar. 01, 2024 14:24 PM EST

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey has rejected allegations by a human rights group that Turkey bears responsibility for some of the abuses and possible war crimes carried out mostly against Kurdish residents in northern Syria. Human Rights Watch said in a 74-page report released on...

Turkey bears responsibility for possible war crimes in Syria, Human Rights Watch says

Feb. 29, 2024 05:17 AM EST

BEIRUT (AP) — Human Rights Watch said on Thursday that Turkey bears responsibility for some of the abuses and possible war crimes committed in Syria, mostly against Kurdish residents in northern Syria. The New York-based watchdog said the abuses were committed by Turkish forces and...