Turkey

04 Dec 2022; MEMO: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday said Turkiye will complete the 30-kilometer-deep (18.6-mile) security strip along its southern border, reports Anadolu Agency.

Speaking at a meeting in southern Sanliurfa province, Erdogan said that attacks will not deter the country from its determined stance on securing its southern border.

ISTANBUL, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- At least two people were killed when a single-engine training plane crashed in Türkiye's northwestern province of Bursa on Thursday, Ihlas News Agency reported.

The plane crashed near a combined natural gas cycle power plant in the Osmangazi district of the city that carries the same name of the province, after taking off from Yunuseli Airport in the province's Yenisehir city at 3:40 p.m. local time (1240 GMT), according to the Ihlas report.

ANKARA, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish Treasury and Finance Ministry decided on Thursday to freeze the assets of some individuals and entities with suspected links to the Islamic State (IS) group, according to the official Gazette of Republic of Türkiye.

The decision to freeze the assets of 17 people and four legal entities in Türkiye was "based on reasonable grounds that they have provided financing for terrorist organizations," said the gazette.

ANKARA, Nov 30 (APP): A tree plantation ceremony was held in the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Türkiye.

The event, hosted by Turkish Deputy Minister Ambassador Faruk Kaymakci, was attended by Ambassador of Pakistan to Türkiye Dr. Yousaf Junaid, officials of Pakistan Embassy and Turkish diplomats.

Deputy Minister Kaymakci highlighted how the two states had supported each during critical times, as the relationship evolved from a strategic perspective.

ANKARA, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- At least 39 people were injured in a traffic accident in the northwestern Bartin province of Türkiye on Tuesday, Demiroren News Agency reported.

A passenger bus overturned on the Zonguldak-Bartin highway near Akcamescit region. A large number of police, firefighters and medical teams have been dispatched to the scene, the agency reported.

The injured were transferred to hospitals by ambulance, it said, adding that an investigation into the accident is underway.

ANKARA, November 28. /TASS/: Turkish army units near the Syrian border have wrapped up preparations for a ground operation across the border and are awaiting an order for a start, the TRT television channel said on Monday.

The Turkish cabinet is planning to discuss later on Monday an operation in northern Syria against the militants of the Kurdistan Workers' Party and its Syrian branch, the People’s Protection Units. Source say Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan could decide to start the operation at the cabinet meeting.

ONCUPINAR, Turkey, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Turkey's army needs just a few days to be ready for a ground incursion into northern Syria and such a decision may come at a cabinet meeting on Monday, Turkish officials said, as Turkish forces bombarded a Kurdish militia across the border.

Howitzers fired daily from Turkey have struck Kurdish YPG targets for a week, while warplanes have carried out airstrikes.

ISTANBUL, Turkiye Nov 26 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday appreciated the contribution of Turkish business’ enterprises operating in Pakistan and contributing to the development and growth of Pakistan’s economy.

The prime minister held one-on-one meetings with leading businesspersons of Turkiye. The delegations of Pak Yatirim, Anadolu Group, Zorlu Enerji, Albayrak and Guris Holdings were led by their respective owners and CEOs, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.

ISTANBUL (Turkiye), Nov 25 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Turkiye on Friday on a two-day official visit at the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

At the Istanbul International Airport, the prime minister and his high-level delegation were received by the Deputy Governor of Istanbul and senior officials of the government of Turkiye.

In a tweet soon after arrival, the prime minister said the bilateral ties between Pakistan and Turkiye had entered a new era of strategic partnership under the leadership of President Erdogan.

ANKARA, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar on Friday refuted allegations that a Turkish airstrike, launched as part of the country's offensive against the mainly-Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia, hit a position of U.S. coalition forces in northern Syria.

"It is out of the question for us to harm coalition forces or civilians," semi-official Anadolu Agency quoted Akar as saying.

"Where the terrorist is, that's our target. Our most important principle is not to harm civilians and the environment," he added.