• Column: What is behind the turkey pardoning ritual?

    Column: What is behind the turkey pardoning ritual?

    Nov 23, 2016 05:20 PM EST

    Since 1989, when President George H. W. Bush first formally instituted the practice, U.S. presidents have pardoned a turkey shortly before Thanksgiving each year. Although the turkeys offer no offense, their presidential pardoning invites the question: What is the significance of such a public rite of forgiveness? As a ...

  • Turkey silences more journalists in latest post-coup crackdown

    Turkey silences more journalists in latest post-coup crackdown

    Nov 02, 2016 11:15 PM EST

    ... threats to rise." FIKRI ISIK, Defense Minister, Turkey (through translator): We have important developments in the region. There is a serious struggle against terrorism inside Turkey and on the other side of the border. Turkey is in the position of making preparations for all kinds of possibilities. HARI SREENIVASAN: And ...

  • Carter to meet with Turkey leaders, stress Iraqi sovereignty

    Carter to meet with Turkey leaders, stress Iraqi sovereignty

    Oct 21, 2016 03:22 PM EST

    ANKARA, Turkey — Defense Secretary Ash Carter, arriving in Turkey Friday, said he will tell Turkish leaders that it's important to respect Iraqi sovereignty. But he stopped short of saying that he will press the Turks to remove any forces that are operating in Iraq without Baghdad's invitation. Carter ...

  • Turkey moves tanks into Syria in fight against ISIS

    Turkey moves tanks into Syria in fight against ISIS

    Sep 03, 2016 10:16 PM EST

    ... is a clear terrorist organization, and also PKK is accepted by the Western countries as one of the major terrorist organizations in the region. So Turkey is fighting with PKK.  PYD and YPG are providing logistics for PKK inside Turkey.  That’s why it is also again unacceptable for Turkey ...

  • News Wrap: U.S. tells Turkey to focus attacks on ISIS, not Kurds, in Syria

    News Wrap: U.S. tells Turkey to focus attacks on ISIS, not Kurds, in Syria

    Aug 29, 2016 11:17 PM EST

    ... HARI SREENIVASAN:  The United States warned Turkey today over its military drive against Kurdish forces in northern Syria.  Turkish tanks and planes are backing Syrian rebels in attacks on the Kurds, who are supported by the U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said the Turks need to focus on ...

  • Turkey opens third Bosphorus bridge

    Turkey opens third Bosphorus bridge

    Aug 27, 2016 07:57 PM EST

    Turkey opened a third bridge connecting Istanbul's Asian and European sides on Friday. The Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge stretches across the Bosphorus Strait, which flows between the two continents. The $3 billion bridge is part of $200 billion worth of construction initiatives pushed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Spanning ...

  • News Wrap: Siege near Damascus to end after 4 years; suicide bomb kills 11 in Turkey

    News Wrap: Siege near Damascus to end after 4 years; suicide bomb kills 11 in Turkey

    Aug 26, 2016 11:19 PM EST

    ... which has been under government siege since 2012.  Secretary Kerry accused the Syrian army of forcing them to surrender. A suicide truck bombing in Southeast Turkey killed at least 11 police officers today.  Another 78 people were wounded.  It happened at a checkpoint just steps from a police station near ...

  • Biden calls on Turkey to be patient in Gulen case

    Biden calls on Turkey to be patient in Gulen case

    Aug 24, 2016 12:12 PM EST

    ANKARA, Turkey — U.S. Vice President Joe Biden called on Turkish authorities to be patient with the U.S. legal system as Turkey seeks the return of a cleric accused of masterminding last month's failed military coup. Biden, who met with Turkish officials in Ankara on Wednesday, said that ...

  • Bombing in Turkey leaves more than 50 people dead

    Bombing in Turkey leaves more than 50 people dead

    Aug 21, 2016 08:51 PM EST

    A suicide bomber attacked a Kurdish wedding party in Turkey near the country's border with Syria on Saturday night local time, killing at least 51 people and wounding 69 others. Of the 69 people wounded in the detonation, which took place in the town of Gaziantep, 17 were in ...

  • News Wrap: Turkey releasing inmates to make room for coup arrests

    News Wrap: Turkey releasing inmates to make room for coup arrests

    Aug 17, 2016 11:15 PM EST

    ... HARI SREENIVASAN: In the day's other news: Turkey announced plans to release some 38,000 prison inmates to make room for people rounded up after last month's failed coup attempt. Prisoners with two years or less left on their sentence will qualify for early release, but the ...