Turkey

DIYARBAKIR, 24 May 2019; AA: A religious motivational book believed to have been written 1,400 years ago was seized Friday by security forces in southeastern Turkey.

The 36-page book written on papyrus paper was seized in an operation carried out by local gendarmes in Diyarbakir province.

The anti-smuggling and organized crime unit of the gendarmerie received a tip off that three people were looking for customers for an an ancient book, the local governor's office said.

ANKARA; 23 May 2019; AA: Turkish Cargo, a subsidiary company of Turkey's flag carrier Turkish Airlines, continued its growth in the first quarter of this year, despite shrinkage in the global air cargo sector, the company said Thursday.

"Turkish Cargo managed to increase its sold cargo tonnage by 11.6% year-on-year, according to World Air Cargo Data (WACD)," it said in a statement, despite a global shrinkage of 3.1% across the air cargo sector in the first three months of 2019.

ANKARA; 23 May 2019; AA: Turkey’s presidential spokesman responded Thursday to remarks by conservative American Steve Bannon who disrespected the Turkish leader.

Ibrahim Kalin said the hatred against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is because he defends the oppressed and exposes racism. 

ANKARA; 22 May 2019; AA: Turkey decided to reduce by half the additional duties levied on 22 products originating in the U.S. in a reciprocal move, the trade minister said on Wednesday.

The move came after the U.S. government announced that it decreased tariffs on Turkish iron and steel imports to 25% from 50% last week.

ANKARA; 22 May 2019; AA: Turkish military personnel are currently receiving training in Russia for the use of the S-400 air defense system, Turkey’s defense minister told reporters in Ankara.

"We’ve sent personnel to Russia for S-400 training that will begin in the coming days and will span the following months," Hulusi Akar said on Tuesday.

ANKARA; 20 May 2019; AA: Turkey is the world’s second largest beekeeping country after China, an official said, as the country marks World Bee Day on Monday.

"Turkey is one of few self-sufficient countries in beekeeping,” Selcuk Solmaz, head of Ankara Beekeepers Association (ABA), said in an interview with Anadolu Agency.

ANKARA; 19 May 2019; AA: Footage released on Saturday by Turkish security sources shows a Greek assault vessel harassing a Turkish corvette during military exercise Sea Wolf (Denizkurdu) 2019.

Turkey's TCG Burgazada corvette was harassed by Kristalidis in international waters of the Aegean Sea.

19 May 2019; DW: The Turkish president has described plans to help Russia build its next generation missile defense system. The move is likely to further strain Turkey's relations with the United States.

Russia and Turkey will jointly produce the next generation S-500 aerial missile defense system, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday.

WASHINGTON; 17 May 2019; AA: President Donald Trump reduced tariffs on Turkish steel imports Thursday from 50% to 25%, citing what he said were necessary import reductions.

That will put tariffs at the level they were at before the president decided to double them last August amid tensions over a since-freed American pastor who was detained in Turkey.

ANKARA, May 16 (Xinhua): Turkey and Iraq have deepened their relations and fostered trade, economic and political cooperation during Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi's visit to Ankara amid regional instabilities, said experts.

The visiting prime minister met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday, discussing issues such as Turkey's concerns on the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) activities in northern Iraq and the new border crossing to be established between the two countries.