Turkey

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkey has ordered the arrest of 238 people in an operation targeting suspects in the military allegedly linked to a Muslim preacher who Ankara says was behind a 2016 failed coup, state-owned Anadolu news agency reported on Tuesday.

The operation, covering 60 provinces, was part of a four-year-old crackdown against the network of U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen. He denies involvement in the July 2016 putsch attempt, in which more than 250 people were killed.

ANKARA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Turkish and German foreign ministers on Monday discussed recent advances between Ankara and Brussels as tensions calm down in the Eastern Mediterranean due to Turkey's gas exploration activities in the disputed waters.

Turkey and the European Union have a positive atmosphere in relations since the bloc's summit last December, but Ankara wants to see concrete steps to enhance relations, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said at a press conference with his visiting German counterpart Heiko Maas.

ANKARA, January 17. /TASS/: Russian diplomats have set off for the Turkish port of Bartin to offer consular services to Russian nationals who might have been aboard the bulk carrier that sank on Sunday off the Turkish coast, Irina Kasimova, a spokeswoman for the Russian embassy to Turkey, told TASS.

ANKARA, January 17. /TASS/: At least four crewmembers of the bulk carrier that sank on Sunday in the Black Sea off the Turkish coast have died, the local authorities reported.

"The vessel sank because of the bad weather conditions. Four people died. Six crewmembers have been saved. The search and rescue operation at sea has been suspended because of high waves, with only helicopters continuing the search," Bartin Province Governor Sinan Guner told NTV.

The vessel sank near Turkey’s Inkumu, Bartin Province. According Guner, six crewmembers have been saved.

16 Jan 2021; MEMO: Turkey has renewed calls to the US to discuss solutions to the Russian S-400 defence system crisis while urging Washington to withdraw the sanctions imposed on Ankara in this regard.

14 Jan 2021; MEMO: Turkey will send 20,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), the country's top health official said yesterday.

According to Anadolu's Northern Cyprus office, TRNC's Health Minister Ali Pilli said that the vaccines will be provided both by the European Union and Turkey.

ANKARA, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday received his first dose of vaccine as the country has started mass vaccination against COVID-19.

After receiving the jab at a hospital in capital Ankara, Erdogan called on all political party leaders and lawmakers to urge people for endorsing the vaccine. "I believe it will be vital especially if all political leaders and MPs encourage (jabs of) the COVID-19 vaccine and strengthen the campaign."

ANKARA, January 14. /TASS/: Turkey continues talks with Russia on the potential supply of a second regiment of S-400 missile defense systems, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Thursday.

"It would be problematic for Ankara to refuse the purchase of Russian air defense systems S-400. We expect that the differences with the USA on this matter will be resolved through dialogue," A Haber TV channel quotes the minister as saying. "Turkey continues to hold talks with Russia on acquiring a second regiment of S-400."

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — A top Turkish official is calling on the new U.S. administration to engage in a dialogue with Turkey and to review a decision to sanction the country over its purchase of an advanced Russian air defense system.

That request comes even though Washington has made clear that there can be no waiver of the sanctions until Ankara disposes of the Russian technology.

ANKARA (Reuters) - President Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday he hoped the resumption of talks between Turkey and Greece over maritime disputes would herald a new era, and he urged Athens not to escalate tensions in the region.

NATO members Ankara and Athens announced on Monday they had agreed to resume on Jan. 25 long-suspended exploratory talks over disputed offshore rights in the Mediterranean, which brought them close to conflict last year.