TIG Post

Tag: Turkey

  • British headteacher who coached 131 children worldwide jailed for 20 months

    A British headteacher who groomed at least 131 children worldwide using social media while working at a school in Iraq has been jailed for 20 months.

    Using Facebook Messenger, Nicholas Clayton, 38, of The Wirral, made contact with kids as young as 10 and requested their images with the intention of sexually abusing them.

    He was apprehended after paying a 13-year-old Cambodian boy to come to Malaysia so they could meet and asking the boy for pictures of his bare upper torso.

    When he returned to the UK, the National Crime Agency (NCA) detained him after receiving information about the communication.

    Investigators found Clayton had been messaging hundreds of boys from across the globe, spanning the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Iraq, Morocco, Turkey and others over a period of just three months.

    He appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on 23 August where he admitted three counts of sexual communication with a child under 16 years and one charge of inciting the sexual exploitation of a child.

    On Tuesday, he was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment and made the subject of a sexual harm prevention order for 15 years.

    New Facebook plans will ‘hide similar predators’

    The case has prompted fresh calls for a “robust” Online Safety Bill, with the NSPCC warning plans by Meta, which owns Facebook, to introduce end-to-end encryption will “blindfold” authorities to similar predators.

    Andy Burrows, head of child safety online policy at the charity, said: “Clayton’s case highlights the ease with which offenders can contact large numbers of children on social media with the intention of grooming and sexually abusing them.

    “Private messaging is the frontline of child sexual abuse online. It’s therefore concerning that Meta plans to press on with end-to-end encryption on Facebook Messenger, which will blindfold themselves and law enforcement from identifying criminals like Clayton.

    “The UK government can show global leadership in tackling online child abuse by delivering without delay a robust Online Safety Bill that embeds child protection at the heart of every social media site.”

    New Culture Secretary Michelle Donelan has previously said there are no plans to water down the proposals for new internet safety laws, which Mr Burrows welcomed as “really encouraging”.

    Hazel Stewart, from the NCA, said: “Nicholas Clayton abused his position of trust as a headteacher by attempting to sexually contact and exploit children, using technology to access hundreds of potential victims across the globe.

    “Clayton was very cautious and careful in his communications, making them appear to be innocent, but as NCA investigators we could see the patterns of predatory grooming he was using on vulnerable children.

    “Protecting children from sex offenders is a priority for the NCA, and we continue to pursue criminals in the UK and internationally to ensure abusers like Clayton are held to account.”

    Facebook ‘taking our time to get it right’

    A Facebook spokesperson said: “We have no tolerance for child exploitation on our platforms and are building strong safety measures into our plans.

    “We’re focused on preventing harm by banning suspicious profiles, defaulting under-18s to private or ‘friends only’ accounts, and more recently introduced restrictions that stop adults from messaging children they’re not connected with.

    “We’re also encouraging people to report harmful messages to us so we can see the contents, respond swiftly and make referrals to the authorities. As we roll out this technology we’re taking our time to get it right and working with outside experts to help keep people safe online.”

    Source:Skynews.com

  • Mahsa Amini: Women in Turkey protest death

    In an effort to draw attention to the death of Mahsa Amini, 22, while in the custody of the Tehran police on Wednesday, a group of Iranian residents of Istanbul and residents of Turkey assembled in front of the Iranian Consulate in Istanbul.

    The activity was observed from a distance by Istanbul police, who on Tuesday repeatedly dispersed groups assembled in Taksim Square.

    During the demonstration, at least three women cut their hair to protest the treatment of Amini, who was detained by Iran’s morality police because she didn’t wear her headscarf correctly and therefore her hair was showing. She later died while in custody.

    Protesters shouted slogans in Persian, Turkish and Kurdish. The Turkish chants included, “We do not keep silent, we do not fear, we do not obey,” and “My body, my decision.”

    The Persian and Kurdish slogans included, “Women live freely” and “We do not want a mullah regime.”

    Banners carried by the group of about 300 people included harsh criticism against Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and the Iranian regime.

    Mahdi Sağlar, one of the Iranians who participated in the protest, has been living and working in Turkey for 20 years.

    “They beat a girl to death because her hair was showing,” Sağlar told VOA Turkish. “Their own children dress as they want in Europe and America, they behave as they want, but in Iran, they arrested her because her hair is out, and they killed her by causing a brain hemorrhage with a blow to the brain at the police station. We are here to protest this. Our citizens in Iran are protesting here on the street as well.”

    Gelare Abdi, another Iranian protester, said that although she loves her homeland very much, she can’t live in her country due to heavy pressure.

    “I need freedom,” she said. “But I have no freedom in Iran. I have been here in Turkey for two years out of necessity. … They killed Mahsa because her hair was showing a small forelock. She was just 22 years old. I am also a woman and I want freedom.”

  • Asante Kotoko cancels pre-season tour in Turkey

    Asante Kotoko, winners of the Ghana Premier League, will depart Ghana on Sunday for a preseason tour of Sudan after postponing their scheduled trip to Turkey owing to visa complications.

    The Porcupine Warriors will spend ten days in Sudan to prepare for the 2022/23 football season.

    The two-time African champions are expected to take on Sudanese giants Al Hilal in a pre-season friendly on Tuesday.

    The Porcupine Warriors had planned to travel to the European country for the second phase of their pre-season, where they would have played a friendly match against Nigerian side Rivers United.

    But the club Sunday, said, “Our planned trip to Turkey for the second phase of our preseason has been cancelled due to issues related to delays in visa acquisition.”

    “The club has therefore opted to travel to Sudan from 21st August 2022 to 1st September 2022 for the second phase of our preseason.”

    “We will be engaged in strategic friendly games with other opponents who have qualified for CAF competitions.”

    The Ghanaian champions will start their campaign at the second weekend of September when they will take on Burkinabe side Rail Club de Kadiogo in the first round of the CAF Champions League.

  • Kotoko assistant coach Abdul Gazale heightens pre-season training in Accra

    On Tuesday, the Porcupine Warriors flew into Accra to continue making preparations for their trip to Turkey.

    According reports, the Ghana Premier League champions will spend a few weeks in Turkey as part of pre-season training where the team will play a number of friendlies.

    This week, the team is in Accra to work on the documentation of players and team officials before the trip.

    Today, Coach Abdul Gazale took charge of the training of the team in the capital and intensified the drills for the players.

    From pictures posted by the club on its Twitter page, players are seen tired and sitting on the grass to catch a break from the tough drills.

    The team will train for two more days in Accra before finally departing Ghana for Turkey on Sunday, August 14.

  • First ship carrying Ukrainian grain heading into Turkish waters

    Our correspondent Alex Rossi has the latest update, which is that it’s heading into Turkish waters.

    It will dock in Istanbul, where it will be checked by officials from the UN, Turkey, Russia, and Ukraine.

    The checks are part of an agreement brokered by Turkey and the UN, which proved a rare diplomatic breakthrough in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

    The Sierra Leone-flagged ship Razoni will head to Lebanon after passing through Turkey’s Bosphorus Strait.

    It is carrying 26,527 tonnes of corn.

    The United Nations has warned of the risk of multiple famines this year as the war in Ukraine has heavily dented food supplies.

    Source: skynews.com

  • Asante Kotoko to travel to Turkey for pre-season

    Ghana Premier League champions, Asante Kotoko, will travel to Turkey for pre-season ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

    The Porcupine Warriors will spend two weeks in the European country preparing for the defence of the title they won last season. The team will leave Ghana on August 15, 2022 and will be in Turkey till August 30.

    Asante Kotoko will play a series of friendlies against some Turkish clubs before returning to Ghana for the start of the league in September.

    The Ghanaian giants were in Dubai last season for pre-season.

    Meanwhile, reports surrounding the future of their coach, Dr Prosper Ogum remains in limbo following reports he has resigned.

    Cameroonian forward Frack Etouga Mbella has returned to Ghana despite interests from several clubs abroad.

    Source: Ghanasoccernet

     

  • Turkey threatens to block Finland and Sweden Nato bids

    Turkey’s president has restated his opposition to Finland and Sweden joining Nato – just hours after they said they would seek membership.

    Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the two Nordic nations should not bother sending delegations to convince Turkey, a key Nato member, of their bids.

    He is angered by what he sees as their willingness to host Kurdish militants.

    Without the support of all Nato members, Sweden and Finland cannot join the military alliance.

    On Monday, Sweden said Europe was living in a dangerous new reality, referring to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

    Russian President Vladimir Putin said the move by Finland and Sweden to join the 30-member military alliance did not threaten Moscow directly – but stressed that any expansion of military infrastructure would trigger a response from the Kremlin.

    At a news conference on Monday, Mr Erdogan said Turkey opposed the Finnish and the Swedish bids to join Nato, describing Sweden as a “hatchery” for terrorist organisations.

    “Neither of these countries have a clear, open attitude towards terrorist organisation. How can we trust them?” the Turkish president said.

    Turkey accuses the two Nordic nations of harbouring members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a group it views as a terrorist organisation, and followers of Fethullah Gulen, who Ankara accuses of orchestrating a 2016 coup attempt.

    All member states must agree that a new country can join Nato, therefore Sweden and Finland require Turkey’s support in their bid to join the military alliance.

    Mr Erdogan said Swedish and Finnish delegations should not bother going to Ankara, Turkey’s capital, to convince it to approve their Nato bid.

    His government has also pledged to block applications from countries that have imposed sanctions on it.

    In 2019, both Nordic nations slapped an arms embargo on Ankara after its incursion into Syria.

    Speaking in parliament in Helsinki on Monday, Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said he was surprised by Turkey’s stance, but added that his government was not interested in “bargaining” with Mr Erdogan.

    Finland formally announced its bid to join Nato last week.

    It was joined by neighbour Sweden on Saturday in a move that will end the Scandinavian country’s centuries-long military non-alignment.

    “Nato will strengthen Sweden, Sweden will strengthen Nato,” Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said at a briefing on Monday.

    She said Europe was now living in a dangerous new reality, referring to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

    “We are leaving one era behind us and entering a new one,” Ms Andersson told lawmakers during a debate in Stockholm, also on Monday.

    She said a formal application could be handed within several days and would be synchronised with Finland. Nato has signalled its willingness to admit the two new members.

    However, Ms Andersson stressed that Sweden did not want permanent Nato bases or nuclear weapons on its territory.

    Norway, Denmark and Iceland – all Nato members – immediately said they were ready to support Sweden and Finland by all means necessary if they came under attack.

    The UK, also a Nato member, has already given security guarantees to Sweden and Finland to cover the transition period.

    Monday’s announcement by Sweden came as Nato began one of its biggest exercises in the Baltic region, involving some 15,000 troops. Named “Hedgehog”, the drills in Estonia involve 10 countries, including Finland and Sweden.

    Source: BBC

  • Turkey forces Germany to abandon arms operation in Mediterranean

    Turkey forced German soldiers to abandon an operation aimed at enforcing the Libya arms embargo in the Mediterranean, the Bundeswehr Military said.

    According to the Joint Military Command, German marines boarded a suspicious Turkish cargo ship on Sunday to check its cargo. But shortly afterwards, Turkey as the flag state vetoed the search and the German soldiers then had to abort the mission.

    The German Defence Ministry said that “no forbidden goods were detected onboard the carrier” up until the point the check was called off.

    Germany has since August been part of the European Union’s Irini mission, which seeks to stop shipments of weapons to conflict-ridden Libya.

    The mission also seeks to tackle the smuggling of oil and fuel.

    German marines abseiled down onto the vessel from a helicopter about 200 kilometres north of Benghazi, after no objection was voiced to the search by Turkey within four hours, a Defence Ministry spokesman said on Monday in Berlin.

    He stressed that the decision to search the vessel had not been taken on board Germany’s Hamburg frigate, but by the Irini mission command in Rome.
    Since there had been no objection at first, “everything had gone smoothly in terms of procedure,” said a spokeswoman for the Foreign Office.

    Libya has been in turmoil since long-time ruler Moamer Gaddafi was toppled in 2011. The country became a proxy battleground for rival forces and foreign powers have been drawn into the conflict.

    Turkey is the main backer of Libya’s UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli, led by Prime Minister Fayez Serraj, and has sent military personnel and equipment to back it up.

    Serraj’s rival, military strongman Khalifa Haftar, is backed by Russia, Egypt, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, with reports suggesting he also receives military support.

    The warring parties in Libya this month began UN-brokered direct political talks in a bid to find a time frame for national elections.

    German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said on Monday that Germany, Britain, Italy and France supported this dialogue and welcomed efforts to draw up a road map for elections in December 2021.

    This is an important step towards “re-establishing Libya’s sovereignty,” he told reporters.

    Source: GNA

  • Turkey’s MPs vote to tighten grip on social media

    Turkey’s parliament has passed a law to control social media platforms, a move human rights groups say poses a severe threat to freedom of expression.

    The law requires social media firms with more than a million Turkish users to set up local offices and comply with requests to remove content.

    If companies refuse, they face fines and may have data speeds cut.

    Facebook, Twitter and YouTube have not yet commented.

    President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has described social media sites as “immoral” and made no secret of his desire to see them tightly controlled.

    The bill was submitted by the ruling AKP and its partner the MHP, which together have a majority in parliament, and passed on Wednesday morning.

    In the past Turkish authorities have temporarily cut internet bandwidth to stop citizens using social media, after terror attacks.

    Under the new law, social media platforms face cuts of up to 95% of bandwidth, rendering them unusable.

    ‘Brazen attack’

    The internet remains a crucial tool for dissent in the country and critics say the move will lead to more censorship. The hashtag #SansurYasasinaDurDe (Say Stop to the Censorship Law) has been trending on Twitter since Tuesday.

    Amnesty International describes it as “the latest, and perhaps most brazen attack on free expression in Turkey”.

    “The internet law significantly increases the reach of the government to police and censor content online, exacerbating risks to those who are already ruthlessly targeted by the authorities simply for expressing dissenting opinions,” said the human rights group’s Turkey researcher Andrew Gardner.

    Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin denied that the bill would lead to censorship, saying it was intended to establish commercial and legal ties with the social media platforms.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Joseph Larweh powers Fatih Karamagumruk to promotion play-offs final in Turkey

    Ghana defender Joseph Attamah Larweh produced a solid display to help Fatih Karamagumruk to the finals of the Turkish Super Lig promotion play-offs.

    The versatile player featured in the middle of the park as Fatih secured an important away victory over Akhisar to progress 4-3 on aggregate.

    Erik Sabo’s 71’st minute goal was all the visitors needed after a thrilling 3-3 draw from the first leg.

    Fatih Karamagrumruk will play Adana Demirspor in the final with the winner gaining promotion to the Super Lig.

    Attamah Larweh has been an inspirational figure for the second tier side since joining them from Rizespor in January.

    The 26-year old made 14 appearances in the second half of the season, to help the club secure a play-0ffs spot.

    Currently on loan from new Turkish Super Lig champions Istanbul Baseksehir, the inform defender has already developed a cult hero status with Fatih and could seal a permanent deal with the club should they earn promotion.

    The former Tema Youth player was influential in the final five games of the regular season, helping his side to secure four wins in five games.

    The Ghana defender is destined to make history with the club if they reach the top tier after a 36-year absence.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Turkey lifts weekend coronavirus curfew in 24 provinces

    Turkey lifted a 48-hour curfew as of midnight Sunday which had been imposed in 24 provinces as part of measures to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus.

    The government enforced its fifth weekend-long stay-at-home order, which included the Mother’s Day holiday.

    The curfew was in effect in the capital Ankara as well as Adana, Balikesir, Bursa, Denizli, Diyarbakir, Eskisehir, Gaziantep, Istanbul, Izmir, Kahramanmaras, Kayseri, Kocaeli, Konya, Manisa, Mardin, Ordu, Sakarya, Samsun, Sanliurfa, Tekirdag, Trabzon, Van and Zonguldak.

    The country’s first curfew was declared on April 11-12 and was followed by others in the past weeks.

    However, Turkish senior citizens aged 65 and above, who have been restricted to their homes since March 21 as part of the country’s fight against the pandemic, were given one-time permission to step out on Sunday.

    Hundreds of thousands of elderly citizens across Turkey, remaining within walking distance and wearing masks, took a breath of fresh air between 11 a.m. (0800 GMT) and 3 p.m. (1200 GMT).

    Children under 14 years old will be allowed out on May 13 during the same hours, while 15-20- year-olds will be able to leave their homes on May 15, also within walking distance and wearing masks.

    Turkey introduced stay-home orders for those over the age of 65 on March 21, while those under 20 years old have been restricted since April 3 to stem the spread of COVID-19.

    As of Sunday, Turkey registered a total of 3,786 deaths from the coronavirus, while 92,691 people have recovered from the disease. There are currently 138,657 confirmed coronavirus cases in the country, while the total number of active cases has dropped to 42,180.

    After originating in Wuhan, China last December, the virus has spread to at least 187 countries and regions. Europe and the US are currently the worst-hit regions.

    The pandemic has killed around 281,900 people worldwide, with more than 4 million infections, while recoveries exceed 1.39 million, according to figures compiled by US-based Johns Hopkins University.

    Source: aa.com.tr

  • 3-year-old toddler beats coronavirus

    A 3-year-old toddler in Turkey has beaten the novel coronavirus.

    He was discharged from hospital on Tuesday in the southern province of Hatay after 15 days of treatment.

    He was admitted to Hatay Mustafa Kemal Research and Training University Hospital with symptoms of high fever and cough.

    Dr. Cigdem El at the Department of Child Health and Diseases told Anadolu Agency: “Turkey is an example to the world with its measures and research in efforts to stem COVID-19.”

    El, without disclosing the identity of the survivor, said the toddler “initially had respiratory problems”.

    “Our young patient initially had respiratory problems. He was in need of a ventilator for three days but responded to our treatments very quickly,” said El.

    She further added that the family members of the young patient tested negative for coronavirus.

    The hospital will continue monitoring the child for four weeks, said El.

    Meanwhile, the family was overjoyed to meet their child for the first time after 15 days of treatment.

    “We were deeply saddened after his COVID-19 tests came out as positive. Thankfully, our child is now healthy. We have also received training on measures to take [against the virus],” said the toddler’s father.

    Turkey has so far registered nearly 91,000 Coronavirus cases whereas the death toll is currently 2,100. More than 13,400 people have fully recovered from the disease, and 1,909 people are receiving treatment at intensive care units.

    The virus has spread to at least 185 countries and regions since emerging in Wuhan, China last December, with the U.S. and Europe now the hardest-hit areas.

    More than 2.47 million cases have been reported worldwide, with the death toll over 170,300 and more than 652,000 recoveries, according to data compiled by the U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University.

    Source: www.aa.com.tr

  • Turkey sees 125 more coronavirus deaths, toll rises to 1,643

    Turkey on Thursday confirmed 125 more deaths from the novel coronavirus over the past 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 1,643.

    The total number of registered coronavirus cases surged to 74,193 as 4,801 more people tested positive for the virus, Turkey’s Ministry of Health announced in a statement.

    So far, a total of 7,089 have recovered and been discharged from hospitals, the statement added.

    It also said that 40,427 tests were conducted over the past day, with the overall number of tests reaching 518,143.

    Turkey is currently treating 1,854 patients in intensive care units, noted the statement.

    Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said in a tweet: “We have surpassed the daily target of 40,000 tests. The increase in the number of cases is now predictable.”

    “We have two strengths: precaution and treatment. Let’s use them,” he added.

    After originating in China last December, COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus, has spread to at least 185 countries and regions across the world. Europe and the U.S. are currently the worst-hit regions.

    The pandemic has killed over 139,400 people, with total infections exceeding 2.09 million, while more than 528,700 have recovered from the disease, according to figures compiled by the U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University.

    Source: www.aa.com.tr

  • Turkish, US presidents agree on efforts to combat virus

    The presidents of Turkey and the U.S. agreed that the fight against the novel coronavirus outbreak could only be won through global solidarity and cooperation, according to an official statement on Tuesday.

    Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump discussed the ongoing virus pandemic, as well as bilateral relations and regional developments, said the Turkish Directorate of Communications.

    The leaders agreed to take the necessary steps to share best practices and data on controlling the various effects of the pandemic.

    In a statement, White House’s Deputy Press Secretary Judd Deere said the two leaders “agreed to work closely together on the international campaign to defeat the virus and bolster the global economy.”

    Besides discussing regional and bilateral issues, the two leaders also agreed “it is more important now than ever for” conflict-hit countries, particularly Syria and Libya, to adhere to cease-fires amid the pandemic.

    In Turkey, more than 10,000 people tested positive for COVID-19 while 168 people died.

    In the U.S., over 3,000 people died of the virus, with 163,429 infected.

    After first appearing in Wuhan, China, last December, the virus has spread to at least 179 countries and regions, according to the U.S-based Johns Hopkins University database.

    The data shows the confirmed number of cases worldwide has surpassed 809,600, with the death toll over 39,500 and more than 172,800 recoveries.

    Source: www.aa.com.tr

  • Turkey’s coronavirus death toll climbs to 75

    Turkey confirmed 16 more deaths from the novel coronavirus late on Thursday, bringing the total number of fatalities to 75.

    A total of 7,286 coronavirus tests have been conducted on Thursday on people suspected of contracting the virus, and 1,196 tested positive, bringing the tally of infections to 3,629, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Twitter.

    The minister said that the patients and their contact circles have been isolated.

    “I persistently invite you to implement the measures [against coronavirus],” he said.

    While most victims of the virus worldwide were among the elderly, health officials fear they may have contracted it from the young carriers who may be asymptomatic.

    After first appearing in Wuhan, China, in December, the virus, officially known as COVID-19, has spread to at least 175 countries and regions, according to data compiled by U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University.

    The data shows more than 521,000 cases have been reported worldwide, with the death toll over 23,500 and around 122,000 recoveries.

    Italy, China, Iran, and Spain continue to be the most affected countries.

    Despite the rising number of cases, a vast majority of those infected with the virus suffer mild symptoms and recover.

    Source: www.aa.com.tr

  • Turks fight coronavirus with secret weapon

    In Turkey, sprinkling hands with cologne has long been a ritual for a visit to the barber, a meal at a restaurant or even a trip on the bus.

    It is seen as a symbol of hospitality, as well as an aid to hygiene, in a country that sets great store by both.

    Now Turkish cologne — found in almost every household, either in the fridge or a closet — is seeing unprecedented demand as a weapon in the fight against the novel coronavirus.

    Many Turks believe cologne, which has a high alcohol content, is effective in keeping hands and faces clean and thus warding off the risk of COVID-19.

    Long queues could be seen outside cologne shops in Istanbul’s busy spice market, in the historic Eminonu district, in early March before Turkey announced its first confirmed case.

    Now shops and pharmacies have put up signs reading “cologne sold out”.

    People are commonly seen sprinkling cologne into their hands in the middle of the street, while taxi drivers offer doses to their clients.

    An association in the northwestern city of Izmit is delivering free cologne as well as bread to the elderly, local media reported.

    Selling out

    Eyup Sabri Tuncer, a leading traditional cologne maker, said it has received tens of thousands of orders in recent weeks.

    “In order for a healthy delivery to the customers… we have temporarily suspended further online orders,” company official Atilla Ariman told AFP.

    Bottles of cologne have flown off the shelves since Health Minister Fahrettin Koca urged Turks to use the liquid as an alternative hand sanitiser against the virus.

    One user, Ilyas Gocdu, said he is using cologne three times more than before. “I believe it is more effective against germs as it contains alcohol,” he said.

    Demand is so great that a black market has developed for both cologne and other hand sanitisers, with Istanbul police raiding a manufacturing plant last week to confiscate products made “unhealthily”.

    Announcing his government’s economic stimulus package last week, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said face masks as well as cologne would be handed out free to people aged 65 and over.

    Turkey has so far recorded 37 coronavirus-related deaths and 1,529 cases.

    ‘A good hand sanitiser’

    Is the belief that cologne is effective against coronavirus grounded in science?

    Professor Bulent Ertugrul, board member of the Turkish Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, said alcohol can destroy the outer membrane of the coronavirus.

    “As alcohol is a good solvent, it destroys this lipid envelope,” he told AFP.

    Ertugrul said the best protection against the new coronavirus is washing one’s hands after contact with the environment.

    But he added: “If soap and water are not available, using a hand sanitiser that is at least 60 percent alcohol can help.”

    Cologne fits the bill, he said.

    “As we know, cologne contains at least 70 percent alcohol,” he said.

    “That’s why it is a good hand sanitiser against COVID-19.”

    Source: AFP

     

  • Turkey closes border to passengers from 9 countries

    Turkey announced late Friday it will close all border gates to passengers coming from nine European countries to fight the coronavirus outbreak.

    An authorization letter signed by Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said passengers coming from Germany, Spain, France, Austria, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, and the Netherlands will not be allowed into Turkey beginning 8 a.m. local time (0500 GMT) Saturday.

    It also said that travelers from Turkey to those countries are temporarily suspended.

    The outbreak has caused serious casualties in some European countries, especially in Italy and the letter said some precautions were taken against other countries, where the virus has rapidly spread.

    Other third country citizens, who have been in those countries in the last 14 days, will not be allowed entry to Turkey.

    It noted that no restrictions will be applied to the citizens of the mentioned countries who want to leave Turkey.

    With almost 15,000 confirmed cases and more than 1,260 deaths as of Friday, Italy has the highest toll in Europe.

    After emerging in Wuhan, China last December, the virus has spread to at least 123 countries and territories.

    The global death toll nears 5,000, with more than 132,500 confirmed cases, according to the World Health Organization, which declared the outbreak a “pandemic.”

    Source: www.aa.com.tr

  • Turkey condemns terror attack in Burkina Faso

    Turkey on Monday condemned a terrorist attack killing at least 43 people in the West African country of Burkina Faso.

    “We are deeply saddened to receive the news that many people lost their lives in a terrorist attack perpetrated on 8 March in northern villages of Burkina Faso,” said a Foreign Ministry statement.

    “We condemn this terrorist attack. We extend our sincere condolences to the government and people of Burkina Faso as well as to the families and relatives of those who lost their lives,” it added.

    Unidentified gunmen on Sunday attacked the villages of Dinguila and Barga in Burkina Faso’s Yatenga region, where Fulani people live, according to a presidential statement.

    At least 43 villagers were killed in the attack and six injured.

    Burkina Faso is witnessing a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian emergency.

    Last October, over 486,000 internally displaced people were registered, more than twice the July 2019 figure. The country’s Centre-Nord and Sahel regions are the most affected, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

    A state of emergency in northern Burkina Faso which ended on Jan. 12 was extended for another year to boost the fight against terrorism.

    It is currently being implemented in seven of the country’s 13 regions.

    Source: www.aa.com.tr

  • Erdogan demands ‘concrete support’ from EU, NATO over Syria

    Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has demanded more support from his NATO and EU allies over the war in Syria as fighting rages in Idlib, and a refugee crisis unfolds at the Turkish-Greek border.

    Erdogan flew to Brussels for talks with the European Union and NATO leaders after tension rose over the fate of tens of thousands of refugees trying to enter EU-member Greece since Ankara said last month it would no longer try to keep them on its soil.

    After talks on Monday with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, Erdogan said he wants Turkey’s Western partners to do more to support his country to cope with millions of refugees from Syria.

    “The crisis stemming from Syria, with its security and humanitarian aspects, is threatening our region and even all of Europe,” Erdogan said. “No European country has the luxury to remain indifferent.”

    Thousands of people have massed at Turkey’s land border with EU-member Greece since Erdogan’s government made good on a long-standing threat and announced it would no longer prevent migrants from crossing.

    ‘Critical period’

    The president made the move after dozens of Turkish troops were killed in intensifying fighting in Syria’s northwestern region of Idlib amid a government offensive – backed by Russian airpower – to recapture the last rebel stronghold in the nine-year war.

    “We expect concrete support from all our allies in the fight that Turkey has been carrying out alone … NATO is in a critical period during which it needs to clearly show support,” Erdogan told reporters standing alongside Stoltenberg.

    They have urged the Turkish leader to halt refugee and migrant departures and negotiate a new deal under which EU members would do more to alleviate the humanitarian situation on the Syrian border.

    “The events at the Greek-Turkish border clearly point to politically motivated pressure on the EU’s external border,” the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said before talks with Erdogan.

    “Finding a solution to this situation will require relieving the pressure that is put on the border.”

    ‘More than money’

    Turkey hosts more than 3.5 million Syrian refugees, and Erdogan has demanded that Europe shoulder more of the burden of caring for them.

    Erdogan was due to hold talks with EU leaders Charles Michel and von der Leyen who are expected to insist that Turkey adhere to the joint refugee agreement of 2016.

    The EU-Turkey agreement of 2016 stipulates that Ankara will prevent undocumented migration towards the EU. In return, the 27-nation bloc promised six billion euros ($6.8bn dollars) to care for Syrian refugees in Turkey.

    Al Jazeera’s Natasha Ghoneim, reporting from the Turkish city of Erdine on the border with Greece, said: “Erdogan had been asking NATO to give Turkey support on the battlefield and that is something he is likely to bring up during his meetings with NATO and EU leaders.

    “Analyst say they do not expect him to simply resume abiding by that 2016 agreement with the European Union for billions of dollars in exchange for strict control at the borders. They say Erdogan wants to see the EU doing more than just providing financial assistance.”

    Erdogan had already given NATO a list of 10 requests including greater air support on the Turkish-Syrian border, more reconnaissance aircraft, surveillance drones, and more ships in the eastern Mediterranean, according to diplomatic sources.

    ‘Common solutions’

    On Monday, Stoltenberg said the alliance was already supporting Turkey and would continue to do so.

    Stoltenberg also highlighted Turkey’s front-line role as a NATO member, saying: “No other ally has suffered more from terrorist attacks, and no other ally holds more refugees.”

    He said NATO support would continue but expressed “great concern” about events on the Turkish-Greek border. “The issue of migration and refugee flows is a common challenge that requires common solutions,” he said.

    European leaders are considering taking in 1,500 child refugees to ease pressure on overwhelmed camps on Greek islands facing a new wave of arrivals from Turkey.

    Von der Leyen said there was no immediate concrete offer of new funding to revive a deal with Turkey to keep refugees from Syria and beyond.

    “We will restart the dialogue,” she said, adding there would be “considerable discussions in the next few days and weeks”.

    In 2016, Turkey and the EU agreed to a deal whereby Brussels would provide billions of euros in aid in exchange for Turkey curbing the flow of migrants.

    But Ankara has repeatedly accused the bloc of not fulfilling promises made as Europe suffered its worst refugee crisis since World War II, when one million people fled to the continent in 2015.

    Source: aljazeera.com

  • Turkey targets Syrian planes, airports in escalating Idlib fight

    Turkey shot down two Syrian warplanes over Idlib on Sunday and struck a military airport well beyond its frontlines in a sharp escalation of its military operations following the death of dozens of Turkish soldiers last week.

    Ankara has ramped up its attacks, including drone strikes, against the Russian-backed Syrian forces since Thursday, when 33 Turkish soldiers were killed in an air strike by Damascus.

    It has already deployed thousands of troops and military vehicles in northwest Syria’s Idlib province in the last month to stem advances by Syrian government forces which have displaced 1 million people close to Turkey’s southern border.

    Already hosting 3.6 million Syrian refugees, Ankara is determined to prevent any further influx from Syria. It has also let migrants cross its borders into the European Union, in an apparent effort to press for EU support in tackling the Syria crisis.

    Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said in the last four days Turkish forces destroyed eight helicopters, 103 tanks, 72 howitzers, rocket launchers, a drone and six air defence systems. He dubbed Turkey’s operation, its fourth incursion in Syria in four years, “Operation Spring Shield”.

    In response, Syria’s army said it shot down three Turkish drones and warned it would take down any aircraft breaching the air space over the northwest, which has been controlled for years by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s main ally Russia.

    Despite the warning, Turkish warplanes downed two Syrian warplanes, while Turkey’s state-owned Anadolu agency said the Turkish military had targeted and rendered unusable Nayrab airport, west of Aleppo city.

    Turkey-backed opposition commanders also said Kuweires airport, east of Nayrab, had been bombed since midnight. Both airports are well inside Syrian government controlled territory, marking a significant expansion of Ankara’s targets.

    The fighting has risked drawing Russia and Turkey, who cooperated for years to contain the fighting despite backing rival sides in Syria’s nine-year war, into direct conflict.

    “We have neither the intention nor the notion to face Russia. Our only intention there is for the (Syrian) regime to end the massacre and thereby prevent … radicalisation and migration,” Turkey’s Akar said.

    He said that 2,212 members of the Syrian forces had been “neutralised”, a term used to designate killed, wounded or captured. The Syrian Observatory, a Britain-based war monitor, said 74 Syrian government troops and pro-Damascus fighters had been killed since Feb. 27.

    Fifty-five Turkish troops were killed in Idlib in February.

    Crisis diplomacy

    Diplomatic efforts by Ankara and Moscow to defuse tensions have failed to agree a ceasefire in Idlib, part of Syria’s last major rebel stronghold.

    Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Saturday that while there was progress in talks between Turkish and Russian delegations, the Idlib issue would only be resolved between presidents Tayyip Erdogan and Vladimir Putin.

    A senior Turkish official and a security official said the meeting would be held on Thursday in Moscow. The officials said the two leaders would discuss steps to take in Idlib and that they were expected to reach a mutual agreement.

    The Kremlin said it hoped Erdogan and Putin would meet on Thursday or Friday. Cavusoglu and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov agreed on the need to create a “favourable atmosphere” to improve working relations between their countries, Russia’s foreign ministry said.

    The latest fighting in Idlib has uprooted 1 million civilians since December, many of them women and children fleeing towards the Turkish border.

    Turkey said it would allow migrants to cross into Europe in anticipation of an imminent new migrant influx from Idlib, lifting restraints on movement in place since 2016 under a deal with the European Union.

    Greek police fired tear gas to repel hundreds of stone-throwing migrants who sought to force their way across the border from Turkey on Sunday, witnesses said, with thousands more behind them after Ankara relaxed curbs on their movement.

    Turkey’s borders to Europe were closed to migrants under the accord between the Turkish-EU deal that halted the 2015-16 migration crisis, when more than 1 million people crossed into Europe.

    Source: France24

  • Kevin-Prince Boateng declares love for Turkey

    Former Ghana International Kevin-Prince Boateng is on loan from AC Fiorentina to Besiktas Istanbul in Turkey.

    And it has become clear early on, It could be more than just a friendship, because Boateng is characterized by a special feature.

    Ibrahim Tatlises is an icon. He shaped arabesque music like no other, sold millions of albums, played in numerous Turkish blockbusters and became a cult figure that is second to none.

    His fame extends beyond the borders. He is particularly popular in the Middle East due to his style, concerts in the Arab region were always sold out, combined with crowds that were frenetically waiting for their Messiah

    Did Kevin-Prince Boateng need the Harald Schmidt show to take Ibo to his heart? Probably not. Born in Wedding, grew up in Berlin, in the midst of Turks, Kurds, and Arabs, culture was no stranger to him. When Boateng lists the languages ??he knows today, he also includes Turkish.

    So it was no surprise that Kevin-Prince Boateng was in his car last year, recording a video on the streets of Barcelona listening to the popular Tatlises song “Bitanem” and singing along.

    In a scene that makes many genuine Turks blush. Bitanem translates to “my only one”, a love song from the Arabesque direction.

    A declaration of love that captivated millions. A declaration of love from Boateng, who greets his Turkish followers at the end of the video

    Since then, it has only been a question of when Boateng will finally show up in Istanbul to play football.

    Because in the past few years there had been repeated tech fights between Boateng and the Istanbul clubs.

    Galatasaray is said to have made a specific request last season, but then did not respond.

    In winter Besiktas nailed it and borrowed the attacking midfielder until the end of the season.

    The joy among Besiktas fans about the last-minute addition was huge.

    The clammy club, which is struggling with a heavy debt burden and actually had no room for new players at all, brought in an internationally experienced and respected veteran, which was reason enough to be happy.

    But then there is the status of Boateng himself. The man who always had sympathy, although he never played in Turkey.

    When Boateng was attacked in Germany for fouling Michael Ballack, Boateng was in favor. When he signed in Barcelona, ??they were happy with him. Guys like Boateng, who have corners and edges, have always been well received on the Bosphorus. Then you forgive one or two escapades

    But Boateng made a good impression straight away, scored his first goal for Besiktas on his debut against Gaziantepspor FK and was celebrated afterwards with: Bitanem. “It was a great start, of course. It’s never too late in life, but when I think of the atmosphere, I thought that I could have come earlier.” Boateng is a leader straight away in a team that was put together poorly before the season – also due to lack of funds – and hardly met expectations.

    One day before the Boateng change, Besiktas confirmed the return of Sergen Yalcin.

    The former legend as number 10 was brought in at the end of January as a new coach, the successor to the hapless Abdullah Avci. “We are still getting to know each other,” says Boateng, but Yalcin knows how to use his new man. Offensive, behind the peaks, with a tendency for the second striker. And it works. Since he also played 14 games in Florence, Boateng didn’t need a lot of start-up time.

    But how should it go on? Besiktas is the 13th station in Boateng’s 14th year. “Turkey was still missing from the collection,” Boateng says with a smile: “I don’t know if I wanted to. If you asked a child today, it would say that it would play the whole career at a club to become a legend there. ” But Boateng also gains something positive from his wanderlust: “I have learned different cultures and languages, so I have no regrets.” He can get used to a longer stay in Turkey. “I would like to stay three years, but I have to ask my wife first.” If Boateng stays, he has to do one thing. “If we become champions, I will sing ‘Bitanem’ in the stadium.” Ibo will be happy.

    Source: Goal.com

  • Turkey’s Erdogan confirms sending Syrian fighters to Libya

    Pro-Turkish Syrians are fighting in Libya alongside military trainers dispatched by Ankara, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan admitted for the first time on Friday.

    Turkey supports the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) based in Tripoli and sent dozens of military training personnel after the two countries signed a series of deals last year.

    “Turkey is there with a training force. There are also people from the Syrian National Army,” Erdogan told reporters in Istanbul, referring to the group of rebels fighting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government.

    The GNA has been under sustained attack for months from eastern-based renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar, whose principal backers include the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt.

    Last month, the warring sides agreed to a truce and although there have been violations, they have held two rounds of talks in Geneva.

    Haftar, meanwhile, said he would agree to a permanent ceasefire if Syrian “mercenaries” left Libya, and Turkey ended its support for the GNA, according to RIA news agency.

    “A ceasefire [would] be the result of a number of conditions being fulfilled … the withdrawal of Syrian and Turkish mercenaries, an end to Turkish arms supplies to Tripoli, and the liquidation of terrorist groups,” Haftar was quoted as saying on Friday.

    But Haftar warned he would not hesitate to use force if his conditions were not met.

    New talks expected

    The GNA in Tripoli agreed to resume negotiations on Thursday after suspending talks with Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA) after rocket attacks on the capital’s strategic port on Tuesday.

    Several rounds of talks focused on economic issues, including fairer distribution of Libya’s oil wealth, have also taken place in Egypt and Tunisia, while talks aimed at a political solution are scheduled to start in Geneva on February 26.

    Ceasefire talks between Libya’s warring sides are going in the “right direction” while hitting hurdles over violations of an arms embargo and the truce declared last month, the UN envoy for Libya Ghassan Salame told Reuters News Agency on Friday.

    Salame, in an interview during a break in military talks in Geneva, said he expected political-level talks to convene in the Swiss city on February 26 but was already working on confidence-building measures.

    “In parallel, we are trying to make air travel a bit safer in Libya especially from Mitiga as well as Misrata. We are also trying to reopen the port to be a safe harbour,” Salame said. “And we are also trying … to help in an exchange of prisoners between the parties.”

    Random bombing

    Libya has been in turmoil since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising killed longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi, with rival armed factions still vying for power.

    In the latest outbreak of fighting, Haftar launched an offensive on Tripoli last April. But after rapid advances, his forces stalled on the edges of the capital.

    The fighting has killed more than 1,000 people and displaced some 140,000, according to the United Nations.

    In the neighbourhood of al-Jaraba, in central Tripoli, residents told Al Jazeera they are still facing attacks despite the truce.

    “The bombing is random, we live on our nerves,” said Abdullah Hussein, an engineer.

    “Any moment a bomb or rocket can hit. It’s especially bad at night, we are too afraid to sleep. We have to be ready to run immediately. People now even know the types of bombs by their sounds, and this is supposed to be a ceasefire.”

    Source: aljaeera.com

  • Turkey deploys tanks to Syrian border amid fresh Idlib violence

    Turkey has deployed additional armed vehicles and soldiers to its border with Syria as an intensifying military push by Syrian government forces in the country’s last major rebel-held stronghold has prompted fears of a new refugee crisis.

    Backed by Russian jets, the Syrian troops have recently made large advances in Idlib province during the deadly offensive that has forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee towards safer areas near the Turkish border, according to the United Nations.

    The Syrian government’s campaign has shattered a fragile ceasefire that was brokered last month by Turkey and Russia, raising tensions between the two countries which back opposing sides in the conflict but have also coopoerated in attempts to find a solution to the almost nine-year-old war.

    Turkish state media reported on Sunday that the deployment of tanks and other armoured vehicles to Reyhanli district of Hatay province was completed earlier in the day.

    “Turkey would do what is necessary diplomatically or militarily in order to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe in Idlib and keep the region stable,” Ahmet Berat Conkar, a member of the Turkish parliament’s foreign affairs committee, told Al Jazeera.

    “Ankara would not hesitate to intervene if the Syrian government offensive turns into a catastrophe,” Conkar said.

    “We need to protect our border against any kind of threat, particularly terrorism, and control it in case of a refugee flow against the backdrop of the attacks going on in Idlib.”

    The UN said on Wednesday that almost 390,000 people – the vast majority of them women and children – had fled their homes in northwestern Syria since December 1.

    Turkey hosts more than 3.5 million Syrian refugees and is wary of a fresh influx.

    ‘Civilians should be protected’

    Idlib is home to approximately three million people, half of whom were transferred there en masse from other parts of Syria that were taken by government forces.

    Damascus and Moscow maintain the military operation in Idlib is aimed at driving out “terrorists” from the region, in accordance with a 2018 de-escalation agreement reached between Russia, Iran and Turkey.

    The Hay’et Tahrir al-Sham armed group, a former al-Qaeda affiliate that is considered by Russia and Turkey a “terrorist” organisation, controls a large portion of Idlib.

    Conkar, who is also a senior legislator in the governing AK Party, said Ankara was not opposed to operations against “terrorists” but stressed that civilians should not be harmed.

    “Turkey’s understanding of fighting against terrorism requires protecting civilians. However, this is not what is going on in the Syrian regime’s offensive backed by Russia in Idlib. This is the main point of conflict,” he said.

    “I believe Turkey and Russia should act in collaboration against terror elements in Idlib and work closer to distinguish civilians from terrorists in the region,” Conkar added.

    “The cooperation and trust between the two countries do not seem to be at that level yet, but hopefully it will be in the future.”

    6,500 children fleeing daily
    Meanwhile, UNICEF, the UN’s children agency, said on Saturday that violence over the past week had forced 6,500 children to flee daily, bringing the total number of displaced minors in the area to more than 300,000 since early December.

    The agency said an estimated 1.2 million children “are in desperate need” amid short supplies of food, water and medicine.

    “Children and families are taking refuge in public facilities, schools, mosques, unfinished buildings and shops. Many are simply living in the open air including in parks, amidst heavy rains and in the freezing cold. Access to the most basic services like health, water or sanitation is either very limited or non-existent,” UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore said in a statement.

    “In Idlib, where more than three-quarters of the population in need are women and children, many families have suffered multiple displacements and are increasingly desperate – with no way to safely escape the violence.”

    Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently warned that Ankara may launch a cross-border military operation in Idlib unless fighting there was quickly halted.

    Ankara has 12 military observation posts around Idlib, set up in line with the 2018 deal for de-escalation zones in the region, but several of them have since been surrounded or have come under fire by advancing Syrian government forces.

    Moscow and Ankara also cooperated late last year in establishing the borders of a so-called safe-zone in a separate region in northeatern Syria following an operation against Kurdish fighters dubbed “terrorists” by Turkey.

    Source: aljazeera.com

  • Migrant crisis: Eight children die as boat sinks off Turkey

    Eight children were among the 11 migrants who drowned when their boat sank off Turkey’s western coast, state media report.

    Eight other people were rescued from the waters off Cesme, a tourist resort on the Aegean coast opposite the Greek island of Chios.

    Their nationalities are not yet known.

    Turkey has been a key transit point for migrants trying to reach Europe, mainly via Greece. Many are fleeing violence and persecution in their countries.

    Read:Dozens of migrants feared dead after boat capsizes off Tunisia

    Many rely on people smugglers and face dangerous land and sea routes which often result in deaths. In 2016, Turkey reached a financial deal with the European Union to stem the flow of migrants and refugees to Europe.

    The Turkish Coast Guard said it responded to “screaming sounds” from the sea at around 20:30 local time (17:30 GMT) on Saturday.

    Cesme is just 15km (nine miles) from Chios, where thousands of migrants are living in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions.

    The number of people crossing from Turkey has risen sharply recently. Most of them are coming from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Syria.

    Read:Several drown after three boats capsize in Philippines

    Turkish authorities held some 60,000 people trying to cross the Mediterranean last year, while almost 9,000 suspected human traffickers were arrested, according to state-run Anadolu news agency.

    Turkey is home to some four million refugees, the largest refugee population in the world, and over 3.6 million of them are from Syria.

    Hours earlier, another migrant boat sank in the Ionian Sea near the south-western Greek island of Paxi, leaving at least 12 dead. Greek officials said 21 people had been rescued and that they were still trying to determine how many people were on the vessel.

    The nationalities and age of the migrants have not been confirmed.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Turkey deploys troops to Libya

    Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said troops have begun moving into Libya to ensure stability for the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli.

    The military deployment was approved last week by the Turkish parliament to deter the Libyan rebel forces, led by General Khalifa Haftar, who have been trying to capture the capital.

    Turkey-Syria offensive: Russia vows to prevent clashes with Assad forces

    Gen Haftar is backed by Egypt and the UAE, while the UN-backed government is supported by Turkey and its ally Qatar.

    The Turkish move was criticised by the United States, Egypt and several other countries.

    “Our soldiers’ duty there is co-ordination. They will develop the operation centre there. Our soldiers are gradually going right now,” President Erdogan told the CNN Turk TV channel.

    The Turkish government has given no details about the scale of the military deployment.

    Ghana to get $1bn FDI from Turkey

    Libya has been torn by violence since long-time ruler Muammar Gaddafi was deposed and killed in 2011 by Nato-backed forces.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Turkey-Syria offensive: Russia vows to prevent clashes with Assad forces

    Russia has said it will not allow clashes between Turkish and Syrian forces, as Turkey’s military offensive in northern Syria continues.

    “This would simply be unacceptable… and therefore we will not allow it, of course,” said Moscow’s special envoy for Syria, Alexander Lavrentyev.

    The withdrawal of US troops from the region, announced last week, gave Turkey a “green light”, critics say.

    Russia is a key military ally of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad.

    Mr Lavrentyev, during a visit to the United Arab Emirates, described Turkey’s offensive as “unacceptable”.

    He said Turkish and Syrian officials were in contact to avoid any conflict.

    And Russia’s defence ministry said its forces, which have been deployed in Syria since 2015, were patrolling along the “line of contact” between Syrian and Turkish forces.

    Read:US Republicans seek sanctions on Turkey over Syria

    How did we get here?

    The Turkish offensive, which began last week, aims to push the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) from the border region. Turkey considers the biggest militia in the SDF a terrorist organisation.

    The Turkish government wants to create a “safe zone” in the area, where it can resettle Syrian refugees currently in Turkey.

    Many of them are not Kurds and critics warn this could lead to ethnic cleansing of the local Kurdish population.

    Dozens of civilians have been killed in the operation so far and at least 160,000 have fled the area, according to the UN.

    Kurdish-led forces have been a key ally of the US in the fight against the Islamic State (IS) group in Syria. They described the US withdrawal, which preceded Turkish action, as a “stab in the back”.

    There are fears the destabilisation could risk a resurgence of IS, as thousands of former fighters and their relatives are being detained in northern Syria. Hundreds of IS family members are said to have already escaped from one camp.

    Some aid organisations have been forced to suspend operations and evacuate international staff over security fears.

    Facing immense pressure, Kurdish-led forces announced a deal on Sunday with the Syrian government for military support to help repel Turkey.

    Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan insists the operation will continue until his country’s “objectives have been achieved” despite the involvement of Syrian government forces.

    The US has imposed sanctions on Turkish ministries and senior government officials in response to the country’s military offensive in northern Syria.

    President Donald Trump also phoned his Turkish counterpart to demand an immediate truce, Vice-President Mike Pence said.

    Mr Pence said he would travel to the region “as quickly as possible”.

    Read:Thousands of civilians flee as Syria Kurds defend against Turkish onslaught

    What are the US sanctions?

    Action has been taken against Turkey’s defence and energy ministries, as well as the ministers of defence, energy and interior, the US Treasury said. The move freezes their assets in the US and bans transactions with them that involve the US financial system.

    President Trump has faced mounting pressure to take action against Turkey – a Nato partner – including from Republicans usually loyal to his administration.

    In a statement posted on Twitter, President Trump also said he would raise tariffs on Turkish steel back to 50% and “immediately stop” negotiations related to a “$100 billion trade deal” with Turkey.

    “The United States and our partners have liberated 100 percent of ISIS’s ruthless territorial caliphate,” the statement said. “Turkey must not put these gains in jeopardy.”

    Vice-President Pence warned that the sanctions would worsen “unless and until Turkey embraces an immediate ceasefire” and negotiates a long-term settlement on the border.

    House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who leads the Democrats, said on Twitter that the sanctions fell “very short of reversing the humanitarian disaster brought about by [the president’s] own erratic decision-making”.

    Earlier on Monday, European Union countries committed to suspending arms exports to Turkey but stopped short of an EU-wide arms embargo. In response, Turkey said it would examine its co-operation with the EU due to its “unlawful and biased” attitude.

    Donald Trump is now sanctioning Turkey for an invasion that he is widely considered to have enabled. By announcing a withdrawal of US troops from northern Syria, President Erdogan was given a de facto green light to move in.

    The sanctions might appear hefty, targeting senior ministers and hiking steel tariffs, but in reality, they are lighter than expected – and we have been here before.

    In August 2018, Donald Trump lost patience with Turkey’s imprisonment of an American pastor, sanctioning two ministers and imposing 50% tariffs on Turkish aluminium and steel. The Turkish lira plunged to a record low of 7.2 to the dollar.

    Since then, the lira has somewhat recovered – and appears to have largely shaken off today’s measures. The US represents just 5% of Turkey’s steel export market.

    Read:Syria conflict: Bolton says US withdrawal is conditional

    President Erdogan tends to dig in his heels when he feels under pressure. There is no sign of any change of tack by him – yet.

    What is happening in Syria?

    Following the deal with Kurdish-led forces, the Syrian army began to move towards the border on Monday.

    The deal is seen as a boost for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as it meant his troops would return to north-eastern areas for the first time since 2012, when their withdrawal to fight rebels elsewhere allowed Kurdish militias to take control.

    Despite disagreeing with their attempts at self-rule, Mr Assad did not seek to retake the territory, especially after the Kurds became partners in the coalition against IS with US troops on the ground.

    Apart from fighting IS, the Kurds were fundamental to the US in limiting the influence of rivals Russia and Iran and keeping some leverage on the ground.

    Syrian state media and Russia’s defence ministry said government forces had entered the strategic town of Manbij, inside the area where Turkey wants to create its “safe zone”. Turkish troops and pro-Turkish, anti-government fighters had been gathering near the town.

    For now, Syrian forces will not be deployed between Tal Abyad and Ras al-Ain, where Turkey has focused its efforts.

    US-led coalition forces had now left Manbij, a spokesman said on Twitter.

    The UN Human Rights office has called on Turkey to investigate suspected war crimes being carried out by pro-Turkish forces.

    “Turkey could be deemed as a state responsible for violations by their affiliated groups as long as Turkey exercises effective control of these groups or the operations in the course of which those violations occurred,” spokesman Rupert Colville said.

    The warning came after footage emerged over the weekend that appeared to show summary executions of Kurds, including female politician Hevrin Khalaf.

    Source: bbc.com

  • US Republicans seek sanctions on Turkey over Syria

    Republicans in the US House of Representatives have announced plans to introduce a sanctions bill against Turkey for its offensive in Syria.

    Congresswoman Liz Cheney said Turkey must face “serious consequences for mercilessly attacking our Kurdish allies” in the region.

    It comes as President Donald Trump said he hoped to mediate the conflict.

    Turkey moved into northern Syria on Wednesday after the president pulled US troops out of the area.

    Tens of thousands of civilians fled their homes on the second day of the offensive.

    Critics say the US withdrawal effectively gave Turkey the green light to begin its cross-border assault, which President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says is to create a “safe zone” running for 480km along the Syrian side of the border.

    Kurdish militias of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) control the cross-border areas – groups Turkey calls “terrorists” who support an anti-Turkish insurgency.

    The SDF have been key allies of the United States in the battle against the Islamic State (IS) group, and say they have been “stabbed in the back” by the US.

    There are fears the operation could lead to an ethnic cleansing of Kurds and revive IS.

    Read:Turkey defies US as Russian S-400 missile defence arrives

    What is the sanctions plan?
    A group of 29 Republicans in the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives have announced legislation which would impose sanctions on Ankara.

    “If Turkey wants to be treated like an ally, it must begin behaving like one,” Ms Cheney wrote in a statement. “They must be sanctioned for their attacks on our Kurdish allies.”

    Ms Cheney adds that “Congress has long had concerns about the [Erdogan] regime’s cooperation with US adversaries, such as Russia”. No mention is made of the US troop withdrawal.

    “President Trump made clear that if Turkey crosses a line in Syria, he would ‘totally obliterate the economy of Turkey’ – and this legislation gives the United States the tools to make good on that promise,” Representative Jodey Arrington wrote.

    It comes the day after Republican Senator Lindsey Graham unveiled a sanctions bill, along with Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen, for “severe sanctions” against Turkey.

    Read:Turkey seeks detention of 211 soldiers over failed coup

    Mr Graham is a staunch ally of President Trump, but has vocally criticised his administration for the troop withdrawal in Syria – saying the US had “shamefully abandoned” the Kurds.

    How has President Trump reacted?
    The president defended his decision to withdraw troops – even saying at one point the Kurds “didn’t help us in the Second World War”.

    But he has since taken a harder line on Turkey’s offensive after criticism at home and abroad.

    Mr Trump has suggested sanctions could come if Turkey’s operation is not “humane” – a red line one official told reporters meant “ethnic cleansing… indiscriminate artillery, air and other fires directed at civilian populations”.

    “We have not seen significant examples of that so far, but we’re very early,” the official said on condition of anonymity, adding that the president had tasked diplomats with seeing “if there are areas of commonality between the two sides, if there’s a way that we can find our way to a ceasefire”.

    President Trump tweeted on Thursday that there were three choices for the US: “Send in thousands of troops and win militarily, hit Turkey very hard financially and with sanctions, or mediate a deal between Turkey and the Kurds”. The president later told reporters: “I hope it’s going to be the last one.”

    He made the remarks before he flew to Minnesota for a campaign rally.

    While reiterating his hope to mediate the conflict between the Kurds and Turkey, the president told the crowds it was time to “bring our soldiers back home” and criticised US involvement in the Middle East.

    “These wars produce only chaos and bloodshed,” he said. “We’re slowly getting out of the Middle East. We’re doing it carefully.”

    Source: bbc.com