Turkey

Migrant crisis: Germany warns Turkey against 'blackmailing EU'

Visa-free access to the EU is seen as a reward for Turkey's role in halting an influx of migrants into Europe.

But the move has been delayed because of a row over anti-terror legislation following Turkey's failed coup.

"It's up to Turkey whether there can be visa-travel or not," Mr Gabriel said.

He said Turkey was drastically distancing itself from Europe by "moving towards reintroducing the death penalty" which was a "flagrant contravention of the EU's charter of fundamental rights".

Turkey shuts down media, fires more troops

Amid a state of emergency, 45 newspapers, 16 television stations and three news agencies have been closed, state-run news agency Anadolu said Wednesday.

Anadolu said nearly 1,700 soldiers -- including 87 generals -- have been fired.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan last week said actions were being taken to remove the "threat" raised during the attempt. Officials have fired or suspended tens of thousands as the government intensifies its vast purge.

Turkey coup attempt: US warns Turkey against 'insinuations' of involvement

US Secretary of State John Kerry was speaking after Turkey's labour minister suggested the US was behind the coup.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on the US to extradite US-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen.

Mr Erdogan has accused him of being behind the plot, which Mr Gulen denies.

Mr Gulen told reporters from his home in Pennsylvania that he had been away from Turkey for more than 15 years and "I don't even know who my followers [in the country] are".

Turkey charges press freedom activists with 'terrorist propaganda'

It ordered the arrest of RSF representative Erol Onderoglu, journalist Ahmet Nesin and academic Sebnem Korur Fincanci.

RSF said it was "an unbelievable low for press freedom in Turkey".

The arrests come despite the EU pressuring Ankara to stop prosecuting academics and journalists.

The three had reportedly participated in a solidarity campaign in support of Ozgur Gundem, a pro-Kurdish newspaper.

Turkish media say they each acted as chief editor for a day.

 

'Dark day'

Passenger takes turkey on US plane as support animal

A hilarious image has been doing the rounds on the internet, showing the large bird sitting on the plane, with what looks to be an arm around its back.

According to a Reddit thread, it is thought the turkey was taken on onboard the flight as an "emotional support animal".

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NATO chief: Russian jets in Turkish airspace no accident

Turkey's military, meanwhile, said more of its jets patrolling the border with Syria were placed in a radar lock by Russian planes and surface-to-air missile systems.

In Syria, Russian warplanes reportedly continued pounding targets in the country, where the Kremlin has come to the aid of beleaguered ally President Bashar Assad.

Germany, Turkey back solution to Syrian war

Chancellor Angela Merkel and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke by phone Wednesday. The government said Merkel praised the "enormous Turkish efforts" to take care of nearly 2 million Syrian refugees in Turkey. It added that the two leaders agreed to increase cooperation on resolving the refugee crisis, with an emphasis on combatting traffickers.

Thai police chief links Bangkok blast to Uighur trafficking

     

Somyot Poompanmoung's comments marked the first time authorities have publicly linked the Aug. 17 bombing to the smuggling of Uighurs, after weeks of hinting at it and saying only that they believe the attack was carried out by human traffickers angered by a crackdown on their network.

Turkey's Erdogan says he will call a new election for Nov. 1

Erdogan said he will meet with the parliament speaker on Monday, the day after the deadline for forming a new government, to complete the formalities. "After that, we will take our country to early elections," he said.

Day of violence in Istanbul leaves at least 3 dead

In the southeast of the country a roadside bomb killed four police, and Kurdish rebels attacked a helicopter, killing a conscript. There has been a recent sharp spike in violence between Turkey's security forces and rebels of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK.

One of the consulate attackers was later captured injured in a nearby building and hospitalized.