Tag: Turkey

Turkish Parliament Ratifies Finland’s NATO Accession as Sweden Kept Waiting

ANKARA—Turkey’s parliament approved a bill on Thursday to allow Finland to join NATO, clearing the way for the country to become part of the Western defense alliance as war rages in Ukraine. The Turkish parliament was the last among the 30 members of the alliance to ratify Finland’s membership after Hungary’s legislature approved a similar…


Moscow-Backed Talks Between Turkey, Syria Set to Resume Following Pause

Following a weeks-long hiatus moves to restore ties between Ankara and Damascus—after 12 years of bitter hostility—appear to be back on track. Encouraged by Moscow, the Turkey-Syria reconciliation process was temporarily suspended last month after both countries were rocked by devastating earthquakes. On March 27, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said the next round…


Under Attack, US Forces in Syria Face Increasingly Volatile Region

The U.S. military presence in Syria is coming under increasing pressure amid mounting volatility in the region and geopolitical realignments.  On March 24, the U.S. vowed to protect military assets and personnel deployed in Syria following back-to-back attacks on its bases. “We’re going to work to protect our people and our facilities as best we…


OC Chaplain Returns From Helping Victims of Turkey’s Earthquake

“Just imagine looking down Wilshire Boulevard in downtown Los Angeles as far as you can see and seeing collapsed buildings and piles of rubble four to five stories tall in every direction you looked,” Orange County first-responder Chaplain Richard “Rick” Yeomans, 67, told The Epoch Times after returning earlier this month from Turkey, in the…


Canada to Accept More Syrian, Turkish Residents After Earthquakes

Following a series of major earthquakes in Turkey and Syria last month, Ottawa says it will introduce pathways to allow temporary residents from those countries to extend their stay in Canada. “People who have been impacted will benefit from special treatment in their application to come and receive temporary protection in Canada, including the family…


Floods Kill 14 in Turkish Earthquake-Battered Provinces

ANKARA, Turkey—Floods caused by torrential rains hit two Turkish provinces that were devastated by last month’s catastrophic earthquake, killing at least 14 people and increasing the misery for thousands who were left homeless, officials said Wednesday. Rescue teams were still searching for five people reported missing in three locations, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said. Soylu…


Turkey’s Quake Toll Tops 48,000 as Government Races to Build Container Cities

ANKARA—The death toll in Turkey from last month’s major earthquakes has risen to 48,448, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said on Monday, as authorities rush to set up container cities to house for the longer-term those left homeless by the disaster. The combined death toll including those killed in Syria has climbed to more than 54,000….


Turkey Forges Ahead With Domestic Electric Vehicle Brand, Imposes Heavy Tariff on China Imports

News Analysis Turkey, the transcontinental country with a budding automobile industry, has imposed a 40 percent tariff on electric vehicle imports from China. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan had decided to impose the tariff on China, but not specifically on electric cars made in other countries, according to the country’s official announcement on March 3. Sun…


Quake Death Toll Nears 48,000 in Turkey, 6,000 in Syria

Istanbul— The head of Turkey’s disaster and emergency management agency has raised the country’s death toll from a magnitude 7.8 earthquake last month to 47,975. Yunus Sezer said during a news conference on Saturday that the people who died included 6,278 foreigners, with Syrian nationals accounting for the largest share. The Feb. 6 quake affected…


Turkey Fines TikTok for Weak Data Protection Measures

ISTANBUL—Turkish authorities have fined TikTok 1.75 million lira ($93,000) for not taking sufficient measures to protect users from unlawful processing of their data, the Personal Data Protection Board (KVKK) said on Wednesday. The fine comes amid growing international concern over the Chinese short video-sharing app and who accesses its user data. Government institutions in Europe…